Australia’s ACCC has opened a 12-month review of rural mobile regulation that could force operators to let rivals into non-urban networks. The review covers wholesale mobile access and the radio access network.
ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said there were growing calls for the regulator to intervene in the mobile market, especially in rural areas. She said now is the right time to examine these issues.
What the review will examine
The ACCC said the review will look at how competition, satellite direct-to-device services, and the Optus-TPG network-sharing agreement are changing mobile delivery in rural areas. That makes the scope broader than a straight roaming question.
The commission is also revisiting a familiar policy fight. In 2017, the ACCC concluded that allowing domestic mobile roaming would not promote the long-term interest of users.
Operators face a new policy stack
TPG Telecom welcomed the inquiry. Optus gave a more guarded approval. Telstra said through a spokesperson that nothing had changed since the last ACCC review.
A separate bill mandating universal mobile connectivity in outdoor areas is before parliament and is targeted to take effect from December 2027. The bill would require operators to provide basic coverage in outdoor areas using cellular network or direct-to-device connectivity.
Starlink is now inside the frame
The ACCC is expected to examine Starlink’s role in rural communications in detail. At SpaceX’s earnings call this week, Elon Musk and Gwynne Shotwell discussed Starlink’s ability to compete with legacy mobile networks.
The article argues that Starlink’s competitiveness will be limited without its own spectrum, but that it may become the default provider in rural areas.
Sources
- Light Reading
- ACCC media release
- ACCC final report
- UOMO Bill draft legislation
- Australian Government media release
- Light Reading