juha: Yeah, I really hope Telecom won't do the separation Max Bradford stylee.

What's going to happen to the mobile bit? Will there be a wholesale division there too?

I can't say if this is a great move for anybody unless it is pulled of flawlessly.

BT seemed to have done it well and we must hope the same will happen here. You can look at what happened in the USA. AT&T was split into 7 and now one of thos spinoffs has brought up all the others including the parent, one deal needs final approval from the FTC but soon enough it will all be back to one AT&T.

bradstewart:

I can't say if this is a great move for anybody unless it is pulled of flawlessly.

BT seemed to have done it well and we must hope the same will happen here. You can look at what happened in the USA. AT&T was split into 7 and now one of thos spinoffs has brought up all the others including the parent, one deal needs final approval from the FTC but soon enough it will all be back to one AT&T.

juha:

bradstewart:

I can't say if this is a great move for anybody unless it is pulled of flawlessly.

BT seemed to have done it well and we must hope the same will happen here. You can look at what happened in the USA. AT&T was split into 7 and now one of thos spinoffs has brought up all the others including the parent, one deal needs final approval from the FTC but soon enough it will all be back to one AT&T.

Things change - the telco industry isn't the same now as it was when AT&T was split up. Also, this is Telecom separating wholesale/retail voluntarily (albeit under pressure from regulation) - wasn't AT&T split by the US government?

Was AT&T split into wholesale/retail operations? Don't think the Baby Bells operate like that, but could be wrong.

Also note that Telecom will still own the wholesale division.

juha: Also, this is Telecom separating wholesale/retail voluntarily (albeit under pressure from regulation)

Just think of all the tax payers money Telecom have just saved by voluntarily doing something that Labour would have eventually forced them to do through draconian regulation, penalties and rigorous auditing. Telecom have done the tax payer a favour!

Jama: More like under pressure from a wave of the big Labour stick...'you will be fined $1M if you don't conform...'

Nice, if I was being threatened with a $1M fine I think I would voluntarily microchip my dog... I mean separate the business.

Just think of all the tax payers money Telecom have just saved by voluntarily doing something that Labour would have eventually forced them to do through draconian regulation, penalties and rigorous auditing. Telecom have done the tax payer a favour!

I'm back from the annual telecommunications conference here in Auckland, and would suggest that you check out the experience of BT Openreach before posting soggy middle management stuff like the above - it's a good, positive story, one where everyone seems to have benefited from the incumbent to its wholesale partners to consumers.