AAPT
Encyclopedia
AAPT is Australia's third largest land line telecommunications company and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telecom New Zealand
. The company is a member of the Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group for the Critical Infrastructure Protection branch of the Attorney-General's department.
. In 1992 AAPIS was formed with News Corporation
and John Fairfax Holdings as majority shareholders with MCI
and Todd Capital
also possessing shares in the company.
According to AAPT's website the company began operating as the first significant competitor to Telstra
in the long distance voice and data markets in 1991. The company received a carrier licence on 1 July 1997 and was later listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
in November of the same year. In January 1999 Todd Capital sold its entire stake in the company.
In 2000 the company was acquired by Telecom New Zealand
in stages and delisted from the stock exchange
. Today AAPT claims to be one of only three Australian telecommunications providers to own and operate its own national voice and data network. AAPT has positioned itself a Virtual Network Operator
in the mobile market utilising the Vodafone
Australia network. In 2006 CommodiTel, acquired AAPT's prepaid customer base.
AAPT's performance in Australia has been considered disappointing, requiring significant investment from its parent company, not providing any returns and has been written down in value by $NZ1.7 billion. In 2006 Telecom considered selling the business but was unable to find a buyer for the company. In 2010 however AAPT sold its under performing consumer business to iiNet for over $60 million resulting in a massive cash injection to its parent company, Telecom New Zealand, who had posted a $250 NZ profit decline in the same quarter. AAPT focus on the Australian Business and Wholesale market has resulted in return to its core strengths.
With significant take up of DSL services in Australia and the relatively slow DSL services available for resale from Telstra, AAPT sought access to competing DSL services operated by companies investing in local loop unbundling
. In November 2006 AAPT signed a wholesale network agreement with Powertel
to allow access to Powertel's wholesale network and installed ADSL2+ broadband network.
Powertel subsequently became a takeover target and Telecom responded by making a counter offer of A$357 million (NZ$400 million) for the company. This offer was accepted and concluded in May 2007 with former Powertel boss, Paul Broad
appointed CEO, with the AAPT name replacing the Powertel name across the business unit.
In June 2011, David Yuile was appointed CEO of AAPT. David's previous role was Chief Operating Officer at AAPT, where he successfully completed the integration of the AAPT-PowerTel businesses and was instrumental in the product and backoffice re-engineering and simplification.
for $60 Million.
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
. The company is a member of the Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group for the Critical Infrastructure Protection branch of the Attorney-General's department.
History
The company was formed by the division of the communications businesses of Australian Associated PressAustralian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press is Australia's national news agency. The organisation was established in 1935 by Fairfax and The Herald and Weekly Times.AAP employs more than 175 journalists who work in bureaux in all Australian states and territories...
. In 1992 AAPIS was formed with News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
and John Fairfax Holdings as majority shareholders with MCI
MCI Communications
MCI Communications Corp. was an American telecommunications company that was instrumental in legal and regulatory changes that led to the breakup of the AT&T monopoly of American telephony and ushered in the competitive long-distance telephone industry. It was headquartered in Washington,...
and Todd Capital
Todd Corporation Ltd
Todd Corporation is a New Zealand company owned and controlled by the Todd family and based in Wellington. The corporation is controlled by John D. Todd its chairman who according to Forbes Magazine is New Zealand's first billion dollar company. John D...
also possessing shares in the company.
According to AAPT's website the company began operating as the first significant competitor to Telstra
Telstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
in the long distance voice and data markets in 1991. The company received a carrier licence on 1 July 1997 and was later listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
Australian Stock Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange was created by the merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange in July 2006. It is the primary stock exchange group in Australia....
in November of the same year. In January 1999 Todd Capital sold its entire stake in the company.
In 2000 the company was acquired by Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
in stages and delisted from the stock exchange
. Today AAPT claims to be one of only three Australian telecommunications providers to own and operate its own national voice and data network. AAPT has positioned itself a Virtual Network Operator
Virtual Network Operator
A Virtual Network Operator is a provider of management services and a reseller of network services from other telecommunications suppliers that does not own the telecommunication infrastructure. These network providers are categorized as virtual because they provide network services to customers...
in the mobile market utilising the Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
Australia network. In 2006 CommodiTel, acquired AAPT's prepaid customer base.
AAPT's performance in Australia has been considered disappointing, requiring significant investment from its parent company, not providing any returns and has been written down in value by $NZ1.7 billion. In 2006 Telecom considered selling the business but was unable to find a buyer for the company. In 2010 however AAPT sold its under performing consumer business to iiNet for over $60 million resulting in a massive cash injection to its parent company, Telecom New Zealand, who had posted a $250 NZ profit decline in the same quarter. AAPT focus on the Australian Business and Wholesale market has resulted in return to its core strengths.
With significant take up of DSL services in Australia and the relatively slow DSL services available for resale from Telstra, AAPT sought access to competing DSL services operated by companies investing in local loop unbundling
Local loop unbundling
Local loop unbundling is the regulatory process of allowing multiple telecommunications operators to use connections from the telephone exchange to the customer's premises...
. In November 2006 AAPT signed a wholesale network agreement with Powertel
PowerTel
PowerTel is an Australian telecommunications company that operates urban and inter-city fibre optic networks across Australia. The company was launched in August 1998 and received its carrier licence from the Australian Communications Authority that year....
to allow access to Powertel's wholesale network and installed ADSL2+ broadband network.
Powertel subsequently became a takeover target and Telecom responded by making a counter offer of A$357 million (NZ$400 million) for the company. This offer was accepted and concluded in May 2007 with former Powertel boss, Paul Broad
Paul A. Broad
Paul A. Broad is an Australian economist known for his management of government business departments. In 2011 he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW...
appointed CEO, with the AAPT name replacing the Powertel name across the business unit.
In June 2011, David Yuile was appointed CEO of AAPT. David's previous role was Chief Operating Officer at AAPT, where he successfully completed the integration of the AAPT-PowerTel businesses and was instrumental in the product and backoffice re-engineering and simplification.
Acquisition by iiNet
AAPT's consumer business was acquired from Telecom New Zealand in July 2010. It was sold to the Australian ISP iiNetIiNet
iiNet Limited is Australia's second largest internet service provider with over 1.3 million customers as of 15th August 2011. Their focus is primarily on ADSL-based Internet access, using their own ADSL2+ infrastructure, and reselling Telstra ADSL1. iiNet also provides dial-up and voice...
for $60 Million.