A new $6 billion telecommunications entity with 17,000 employees has been formed by Telstra in what is seen as a major play ahead of the Federal Government announcing the awarding of an $8 billion dollar contract to build a new broadband network for Australia.
The new entity will

 A new $6 billion telecommunications entity with 17,000 employees has been formed by Telstra in what is seen as a major play ahead of the Federal Government announcing the awarding of an $8 billion dollar contract to build a new broadband network for Australia.
The new entity will be called Telstra Networking & Technology and will be headed by Michael Rocca a 40 year Telstra veteran. The new entity will be split into 3 core divisions, Networks, Wireless and Services. No press release has been issued on the restructure.
A Telstra spokesperson said “The new structure will focus on building and managing the Telstra network and the new Telstra Next G network as well as delivering telecommunication services”.
They added” Greg Wynn has handed the network over to the new entity that will be run by Michael Rocca”.

When it was put to the spoksperson that the restructure and the forming of a new entity was was of a major play by Telstra to win the contract to build a new $8 billion dollar broadband network for Australia. They said “We cannot comment on that” .

UPDATED: In a later statement Telstra said ” Greg Winn, Telstra’s Chief Operations Officer announced the establishment of a new business unit within Telstra Operations called Telstra Networks and Services led by Group Managing Director, Michael Rocca effective 1 May 2008.

“This decision brings together the technology, networks, infrastructure build and service delivery areas into a single business unit incorporating Telstra Services led by Michael Rocca, Network and Technology led by Executive Managing Director, Dan Burns and Wireless led by Executive Director, Mike Wright,” Greg said.

“I congratulate Michael Rocca on his appointment. He will continue to report directly to me and is a senior member of the CEO’s Leadership Team.”

Michael Rocca said: “This provides for additional synergy between these businesses in terms of network management and deployment, growth and service delivery.”