Off topic…

LAST EDITED ON 12-04-01 AT 05:19 AM (GMT)[p]LAST EDITED ON 12-04-01 AT 05:18 AM (GMT)

…but important, in my opinion anyway, especially for us Aussies.

Singtel recently offered almost AUD$20bn for Australia’s second largest telco company, C&W Optus. Now, the deal itself, is very good for Optus, it will mean that the cashed up Singtel can help Optus compete better against Australia’s largest telco, Telstra (valued at AUD$100bn). However, one part of the deal has caused some concern. Later this year, C2, a second joint venture telco/military satellite is to be launched, following C1. Both satellites are jointly owned by the ADF and Optus (60% Optus, 40% ADF). Singtel, 78% owned by the Singapore government, will effectively own the majority share of satellites which will transmit the most sensitive information in Australia. Now, Singapore is a staunch ally of Australia, and I’m sure the information being transmitted is encrypted encrypted encrypted, but I don’t think I’m the only Australian just a little bit worried about a foreign government owning a share in an Australian military satellite. What are your thoughts?

MinMiester