Telstra Corp expects the merger of CSL and New World Mobility will help the Australian carrier expand its Asian business, but the company stopped short of giving specific growth projections or plans.
With the tie-up between CSL and New World Mobility finalised, the combined company now commands 34 per cent of the saturated Hong Kong market, which has more than eight million mobile phone users.
Opportunities for growth are limited and rivals are pairing off with mainland carriers. Chief executive Sol Trujillo yesterday said he believed Hong Kong was a 'gateway' to the larger Asian market, although he refused to be drawn on specific plans.
'I think that Telstra should be one of the big players in the business. I expect Telstra to be an even bigger player in this part of the world,' Mr Trujillo said.
'I do see this venture as enhancing our strategic options. You don't talk about these things until you are ready to discuss them.'
In addition to CSL, Telstra's other key presence in the region includes a stake in undersea cable carrier Reach.
Mr Trujillo said he expected the mobile and undersea cable businesses to 'grow aggressively'. 'Everybody is growing at double-digit rates, and we expect to grow with them,' he said.