Telstra chief executive David Thodey has sent his clearest warning to date that the telecommunications company will take the federal government to court if it is forced to share its mobile network with rival players.

He warned Telstra would go to court if the government supported calls by rivals SingTel Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia to open up Telstra's network in rural and regional areas.

Combative strategy: Telstra boss David Thodey is willing to go to court to protect his company's network.

When asked if he had abandoned previous Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo's combative strategy of taking the government to court, MrThodey said it remained a weapon in Telstra's arsenal.

"If they chose to invest in Australia as we did, they would be in a different position," he said.