Microsoft Corp chairman and chief executive Bill Gates has reiterated his interest in using Telstra Corp Ltd’s $3bn hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network to deliver WebTV services to Australia. Gates had originally raised the idea of WebTV deals when visiting Australia earlier this year. Speaking yesterday at a Committee for the Economic Development of Australia function, Telstra’s chief executive Frank Blount said Gates had since met privately with Telstra at Gates’ annual CEO summit held in Seattle last month. A Telstra/Microsoft WebTV deal could bring Telstra some return on its investment in the HFC network, which is under-used, acting primarily as a transmission channel for the Foxtel pay-TV service. Microsoft and Telstra will commence formal discussions next month.
