Australia (country regulation overview)

The Australian market was shaken up by major government intervention in 2009, in the form of a proposal for a publicly funded wholesale-only FTTH national broadband network (NBN). In parallel, the government also introduced new legislation into parliament to functionally separate the incumbent, Telstra, and to streamline the regulation of competition in the industry.

Although the legislation has not yet been passed and the government’s FTTH plans are still under development, it is clear that Australia is undergoing its biggest telecoms reform since 1997 when open competition was introduced.

We expect the government to succeed in separating Telstra by some means. It is less clear how it will execute its ambitious FTTH plans. But if it can create a wholesale-only access network, the government will have laid the foundation for a new framework for competition in the industry.

The government’s NBN policy and its legislative reform package are closely related. The legislation strengthens the government’s bargaining position in its negotiations with Telstra over the NBN. While we believe some elements of the package are non-negotiable, other elements are bargaining chips designed to pressure Telstra to cooperate with the government’s NBN plans.


Report Highlights

[Cerrar las informaciones del articulo de mercado]

Overview
Ovum view
Fixed market overview
National broadband network
Mobile market overview
National regulatory authority
ACCC competition notices
Proposed new powers
Key legislation and regulation
Mobile licensing
MVNOs
3G spectrum licences
Retail regulation
Retail regulation
Wholesale fixed regulation
Regulatory arrangements
Indicative wholesale pricing: on hold
Operational and functional separation
Narrowband voice interconnection
Procedure for setting and reviewing charges
Format of charges
Narrowband flat-rate interconnection
Flat-rate Internet access call origination (FRIACO)
Wholesale access
Wholesale line rental
Local loop unbundling
Line-sharing service (spectrum sharing)
Wholesale broadband services
Wholesale mobile regulation
Services subject to regulation
Mobile-to-fixed termination charges
Mobile termination charges
MVNO access
Universal service
The universal service regime
Universal service obligation
Digital data service obligation
Universal service review
[Cerrar la tabla de contenidos]

List of Tables
Table 1: Australia 3G (2GHz band) spectrum auction results
Table 2: 3G-compatible spectrum holdings of Australian MNOs
Table 3: Mobile sector: services subject to regulation
n/a
[Ocultar lista de tablas / figuras]