AAPT Reorganises for Australian E-Commerce

Australian telecommunications carrier AAPT has
consolidated its e-commerce and ISP divisions into
one entity in an effort to combat rising competition between Australian
telcos in the Internet industry.

AAPT will combine its e-commerce division, which until a recent buy-out had
been owned by American telco AT&T under the name of AT&T EasyLink Services
Australia, with its wholly owned subsidiary connect.com.au, which is among
the top ISPs in Australia.

The merged entity will trade under the connect.com.au name, and will
“provide comprehensive e-commerce business solutions across all markets”,
according to a statement released by the company.

Connect.com.au had until earlier this year been jointly owned by AAPT,
hardware manufacture NetComm, and an investment arm of the National
Australia Bank called NAICL, but AAPT bought out its partners.
David Glavonjic, former CEO of AAPT’s e-commerce division, takes over as
managing director of connect.com.au after the recent resignation of John
Stuckey.

AAPT is one of a number of medium-size telcos in the Australian market,
behind Telstra and Cable & Wireless Optus, and Connect.com.au also trails
Telstra and OzEmail in the ISP industry.