SingTel Optus's sudden decision to suspend its much promoted wireless Fusion broadband offerings is an effective admission that it could not deliver what it promised customers across Australia.

This latest failure to deliver is further evidence that SingTel Optus is not up to delivering the National Broadband Network.

“This disaster really begs the question how anyone could risk something as important as Australia's broadband future to an operation that cannot get its basic wireless network to work effectively,” Telstra's Group Managing Director, Public Policy & Communications, David Quilty said.

The Fusion debacle raises serious questions about SingTel Optus's network capacity and its commitment to customers with reports it was left with no option but to withdraw these wireless broadband offerings.

“SingTel Optus might pretend the fault lay in the popularity of its offerings but in reality, this points to an under-engineered and/or an under-invested network that apparently cannot cope with demand or deliver to customers what was promised.” Mr Quilty said.

“Imagine entrusting the National Broadband Network to SingTel Optus and its monopolist Terria outfit, only to have the admission a few weeks later that it was barely capable of dial-up speeds as was reportedly  the case with Fusion."

Telstra Country Wide® Executive Director Eastern Region, Brett Riley said regional customers in particular have the right to demand answers.

“How wide and broad are these issues? Has SingTel Optus adequately planned and invested in  its network with the right combination of spectrum, backhaul and infrastructure to meet the demands of the services it is selling? Can it deliver the speeds and capacity that 3G customers want?

“Consumers are hungry for a 3G experience but some carriers, including SingTel Optus, operate partial 3G networks with vast areas where the iPhone for example has been reduced to 2G speeds or no coverage at all. In contrast, you can use your iPhone or other Next G™ device anywhere across our expansive Next G™ network coverage area and you will get a rich 3G experience.

“Quite simply, it would be a disaster for people in regional and rural Australia if we were to entrust our broadband future to SingTel Optus. It hasn’t invested adequately, it under-delivers and makes poor technology choices - first it was a WiMax plan without having the most basic spectrum available and now it won’t come clean on whether or not its wireless network fails the capacity or other key tests,” he said.