BT is focused on entering new markets such as the differentiated data services portfolio it is developing under the Application Assured Infrastructure label.

Such clean-slate approaches run contrary to Telstra's notoriously insular and protectionist views, Ma said.

"Incumbents can spend heavily defending their legacy base but [build strategies] without accepting that they are legacy services, and that they're going to disappear no matter how successful the company is in stretching out their end of life," Ma said.

"The value to shareholders [of delaying change] on an incremental basis is actually very little; it's only investing in the future that makes sense to the shareholder."