CANBERRA - Telstra has given the clearest indication yet it will make a bid to build Australia's national broadband network.
The telco has been holding out on confirming a bid as it seeks government assurances its retail and network arms won't be broken up.
Tenders for the multi-billionnetwork close at midday on Wednesday and the Telstra board is understood to be meeting hours before to make a final decision about lodging a bid.
"We are ready to go," Telstra's group managing director (public policy) David Quilty said today.
Telstra had the experience, the technical know-how, staff and financial capacity to do the job properly, he said.
Mr Quilty warned a competing bid by rival consortium Terria could cost taxpayers down the track because its lead member - Singtel Optus - was prepared only to invest the "absolute minimum" of its own money in the project.
