The ACCC should move directly to implementing domestic mobile roaming rather than committing consumers to a 12-month inquiry process, says peak communications consumer body ACCAN.
The ACCC today announced an inquiry into regional mobile coverage, including whether to declare domestic mobile roaming and a radio access network service. ACCAN has campaigned for domestic mobile roaming as a core reform for some time, arguing it is perhaps the single best way to improve coverage, reliability and competition in Australia.
At a time when consumers have faced recurrent failures by mobile networks, implementing domestic mobile roaming is critical to improving public safety.
The ACCC proposes to investigate the impact of this regulation on investment and competition. Sadly, ACCAN has seen no evidence of improved competition in regional areas over many years, and as the industry itself has admitted – further network investment has dried up, unlikely to return.
ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett said that, “while the ACCC is well placed to consider competition issues – they are a competition regulator that are not required to take into consideration public safety in their review – and moving to mandated domestic roaming is a decision that sits with the Minister for Communications Anika Wells.”
“The government already have the evidence and the legislative pathway needed to act now. There is a bill before Parliament – the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation Bill – which, with simple amendments, would allow the ACCC to declare domestic mobile roaming and get on with the job of implementation,” Ms Bennett said.
“We can declare this service in the next sitting of parliament and get the ACCC down to brass tacks. For consumers, a reliable mobile connection means being able to stay in contact with family, friends, clients and emergency services. A lengthy review risks delaying these benefits by years we don’t have.”
ACCAN’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker survey found in April that 94% of respondents among those with a firm view support domestic mobile roaming, with just 6% opposed.
“Over the coming years we face serious natural disaster threats and the ongoing and commonplace telco outages that could spell disaster for public safety. All of this we will have to weather before roaming could kick in following the process proposed today.”
ACCAN is calling on the ACCC to focus its inquiry to the terms and conditions of implementation, rather than re-litigating whether domestic mobile roaming should occur at all.
“It’s time to put the interests of consumers ahead of those of large telcos, whose regional networks taxpayers have bankrolled for decades. Consumers cannot afford more uncertainty and handwringing over a reform that is needed now.”
National Farmers Federation CEO Mike Guerin said that, “Regional Australians have been left in the dark for too long, struggling with poor and unreliable connectivity. Mandatory mobile roaming will make every Australian safer. We can’t wait any longer.”
National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) Board Chair, Heather Keighley said, “We know that delivering mobile coverage is crucial in delivering health services and continuity of care to people living in rural areas. We need action now and the 12-month timeframe for this inquiry could delay equity for longer.”
About us:
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is Australia’s peak communication consumer organisation. The operation of ACCAN is made possible by funding provided by the Commonwealth of Australia under section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. This funding is recovered from charges on telecommunications carriers.
