Telstra meets with Anika Wells over billion-dollar fee stoush
Anika Wells has met with representatives from Australia’s largest telco but seems unmoved by their concerns.
Telstra officials have met with Anika Wells amid a fight over the telecommunications regulator's proposed fees for spectrum, which could see the telecommunications giant slugged with billions of dollars more in charges. But the Communications Minister appears unconvinced she needs to intervene.
The $55 billion ASX-listed telco lodged complaints with Treasury in a pre-budget submission late last week, arguing the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) preferred price point for spectrum risks stifling productivity, holding back infrastructure upgrades and increasing price pressures on Australian households.
A source speaking to Capital Brief, who declined to be named as the meeting was sensitive, confirmed that officials from Wells’ office were lobbied by Telstra representatives this week.
The increased effort to stave off billions in new costs comes days out from the release of its half-year earnings on 19 February.
