My posting last week "Telecom Wholesale Has a Case to Answer" created a bit of a storm. I've had strong representations from both sides and phone calls from highly unusual sources, lobbying me about the position TUANZ should take. At last count I can remember at least 18 conversations ranging from TCF Board members, hands-on regulatory people, industry observers, and CEOs. And there’s been a reaction from readers in the Blog comments - even one who had second thoughts and asked for their comment to be withdrawn!

Telecom Wholesale addressed the issue with its customers on Thursday. TUANZ wasn’t there as our invitation came a bit late, but I've chatted to a few people who were.

So after a few days' hindsight can I answer my opening question - the bit that I know upset Telecom - "Has the new friendly Telecom of the last eighteen months been a facade? Has the ugly, anti-competitive; scheming version returned? Did it ever go away?"

Let’s put a few things in perspective:

* It’s been a huge year for the many people at the regulatory and implementation interface. People right across the industry have worked immensely hard. Many are exhausted, and sometimes in those circumstances emotions run a bit high.
*Telecom Wholesale could have served its customers better by keeping the impact of cabinetising more on the radar. The announcement about cabinetisation clearly came as a major shock to several of Telecom's wholesale customers.
*Whether they should have been so shocked is a moot point. Telecom counter-argues, with some legitimacy, that it had signalled the cabinetising plans way back. As Matt Crockett said to me in an email "I believe some of the industry are genuinely surprised (and hence are not insincere) – my point is given the information provided over the last 6-12 months, especially that in June, I don’t think they should be."
*The change of CEO at Telecom has not helped this situation. Capital expenditure decisions went on hold for some time, and now there's a rush to get back into action.

So my feeling a few days later is that we can still trust Telecom's sincerity. I think it could have handled the communication better and I'm really concerned about the impact on its competitors' LLU investment plans. I hope it will take a "friendly wholesaler" view in looking for compromises. But we're all learning in this new environment and will get a few things wrong - the trick is to learn from them.

So for now I'm giving the Wholesale team the benefit of the doubt. Lessons to learn - yes. Better communication needed - yes. Fix-up job ahead - yes. Fundamental reason for customers to reduce trust - probably not.

And a final word to CEOs right across the industry. This is one of several illustrations I've seen that people closely engaged in the regulatory scene are very, very battle weary. Please make sure the key ones, on all sides of the process, get a good break this summer. It really has been gruelling for many people and they need and deserve this.