Telstra (TLS)

Shares / Stock Code

TLS

Stock Exchange / Sharemarket

ax

Telstra is the biggest telecommunications carrier in Australia. They provide telecommunications and information services, including mobiles, internet, and pay television. This telecoms conglomerate offers a variety of services and has a presence in all the telecom markets in Australia. The company also provides internet and data services and IT management. Telstra has eight business segments: Telstra consumer marketing and channels, Telstra enterprise and government, Telstra business, Telstra wholesale, Sensis, Telstra international, Telstra operations and others.

Telstra consumer and marketing channels serves metropolitan consumer and small business customers. It offers a full range of products and services including fixed, wireless and data, the overall management of Telstra’s brands, advertising and sponsorships. The segment also operates mass market channels including inbound and outbound call centres, Telstra Shops and Telstra Dealers.

The Telstra enterprise and government segment provides the full range of telecommunication products and services, communication solutions, and information and communication technology services to corporate and government customers in Australia. The segment’s operations also include the provision of global communication solutions for multi-national corporations through its interests in the UK,
Asia and North America.

The Telstra business provides the full range of telecommunication products and services, communication solutions, and information and communication technology services to small to medium enterprises. The Telstra wholesale segment offers a wide range of telecommunication products
and services through its networks and associated support systems to non-Telstra branded carriers, carriage service providers, internet service providers, system integrators and application service providers.

The Sensis segment manages advertising and directories business, including printed publications, directory assistance, and online products and services. Telstra international manages the company’s international interests in Hong Kong and New Zealand. The international segment also serves multi-national customers. The company’s international businesses include Hong Kong CSL, a Hong Kong based mobile operator; TelstraClear, the second largest full service carrier in New Zealand.

The Telstra operations segment looks after the company’s operations which include multi-year business improvement and transformation program; overall planning, design, specification of standards, commissioning communication networks; construction of infrastructure for fixed, mobile, internet protocol (IP) and data networks; operation and maintenance, including activation and restoration of these networks; supply and delivery of information technology solutions to support products, services and customer support functions; operational support functions, including procurement, billing, credit management and property management.

The others segment includes Telstra country wide; Telstra BigPond; Telstra media; and strategic marketing. Telstra country wide manages and controls the provision of telecommunication products and services to consumer, small business, enterprise and some government customers outside the mainland state capital cities, in outer metropolitan areas, and in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Telstra BigPond manages retail internet products, services and content, contact centers, customer
relations and associated functions, for broadband and narrowband delivery.

Telstra media oversees the company’s investment interest in Foxtel partnership; the development and management of the hybrid fiber coaxial cable network; and development of an interactive PayTV (IPTV) service. A strategic marketing unit coordinates marketing activities across all customer and market segments.

Telstra Company History

Telstra's original company was founded in 1901 when Australia became independent and telecommunications were allocated to the Postmaster General’s (PMG) department. Due to losses in its postal operations in the post-war years, in 1974, the Royal Commission recommended that the PMG be split into two operations: postal and telecoms. The Australian Telecommunications Commission (Telecom Australia) was formed in 1975.

In partnership with News Corporation, the company ventured into the pay television market in 1995 and launched Foxtel. Telstra went public in 1997, following the deregulation of the Australian telecommunications market, and subsequently one third of Telstra’s stock was sold to the public. The company’s shares were quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange and on the New Zealand Stock Exchange. During 1999, the government decided to float an additional 16.6% stake. The Australian Senate rejected the proposal to sell the state’s 50.1% stake in Telstra in 2003.