The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has published information concerning the number and distribution of services supplied over Telstra's widespread copper network.

Data indicates that in the two years to September 2009, the number of broadband services supplied by internet service providers through direct access to Telstra copper loops, coupled with investment in their own equipment, has more than doubled to reach 1.3 million services.

While the growth of broadband services via direct access has, as expected, slowed to around 288,000 lines in the past 12 months, investment has continued to expand with an additional 24 telephone exchanges now being serviced by alternative providers.

"This data shows that competition by direct access continues to grow with consumers exercising choice and seeking value by selecting alternate service providers for broadband," ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said today.

Telstra, more generally, has recorded a decline in the number of retail and wholesale broadband services provided over its own fixed line equipment, while at the same time, broadband services through alternative providers have increased. The net result has been overall annual growth in broadband services of close to three per cent led by alternate providers.

At the same time, total fixed lines in operation have fallen below 10 million. This decline is likely to have resulted from the trend to disconnect second lines and a substitution of mobile services for fixed lines, though the relative importance of these factors remains unquantified.

 

Telstra voice
only SIOs1

Telstra wholesale and
retail ADSL2

Other
Telstra DSL
products
SIOs3

ULLS
SIOs4

LSS
SIOs5

Total
SIOs

Band 1

195 306

29 761

4 630

30 698

24 381

260 395

Band 2

4 195 151

1 782 342

36 865

683 354

564 451

6 697 712

Band 3

1 089 829

890 987

11 082

9 475

18 281

2 001 373

Band 4

714 178

275 897

5 574

150

881

995 799

Total

6 194 464

2 978 987

58 151

723 677

607 994

9 955 279

Growth index
(since September 07)

90.72

95.28

113.64

236.30

179.77

96.54

  1. Total Voice only SIOs, as described in Attachment A to the Telstra Customer Access Network Record Keeping and Reporting Rules 2007 (Telstra CAN record keeping rules)
  2. Total Voice and DSL SIOs, described in Attachment A to the Telstra CAN record keeping rules
  3. Total DSL only SIOs, as described in Attachment A to the Telstra CAN record keeping rules
  4. ULLS Access Seeker, as described in Attachment A to the Telstra CAN record keeping rules
  5. LSS Access Seeker, as described in Attachment A to the Telstra CAN record keeping rules