A quick guide to the biggest telco deal in a generation.

The government has rejected predictions it will make ultrafast broadband compulsory.

Telco boss pushes for changes; willing to walk.

He's been designated part of the in-crowd, but Allan Freeth wants to make it clear his company will stay out.

TelstraClear chief executive Allan Freeth was in his usual maverick form at the Tuanz Telecommunications Day conference in Wellington today.

Weighing in on the government’s $1.5 billion ultrafast broadband (UFB) project, the telco boss said:

"To us, the present proposal looks likely to play out in a way that’s reminiscent of the Tragedy of the Commons.

Speaking at the 10th annual Telecommunications and ICT conference (TelCon10) in Auckland, TelstraClear chief executive Allan Freeth said his company would consider bidding for business in one or of the government’s proposed 25 local fibre companies - should the regional model go ahead.

But Dr Freeth devoted most of his speech to a series of broadsides against Crown fibre.