Gillard Releases Broadband Details to Gain Support for Telstra Laws

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard released confidential details on the government's planned high-speed Internet plan to try to gain support for a related law to split Telstra Corp.'s businesses.

Gillard released part of NBN Co.'s corporate plan, boosted consumer protection in the planned national network and established a committee to oversee its rollout as part of an agreement with independent Senator Nick Xenophon. This clears the way for a vote on the Telstra law in the Senate. Telstra's retail business needs to be split from its copper-wire network to make way for a national plan to provide Internet services to Australia's remotest corners. The plan is the nation's biggest infrastructure project, with A$35.7 billion ($34.9 billion) in capital expenditure including a A$9 billion deal with Telstra.