Voice interconnection services access determination inquiry

The ACCC is holding a public inquiry under Part 25 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) about proposals to make final access determinations for 3 voice interconnection services:

• The mobile terminating access service (MTAS)
• The fixed terminating access service (FTAS)
• The fixed originating access service (FOAS)

The ACCC has decided to combine the public inquiries about the making of access determinations for these three declared services under section 152BCJ(1) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA).

The combined public inquiry will consider the price and non-price terms and conditions of access to these voice interconnection services taking into account the long-term interests of end-users and other matters under section 152BCA of the CCA.

We anticipate that the inquiry will be conducted over a six-month period. However, this period may be extended.

The current MTAS final access determination made in 2020 is available at Final access determination no. 1 of 2020 for the Mobile Terminating Access Service (MTAS).

The current FTAS and FOAS final access determinations made in 2019 are available at Final Access Determinations Nos. 1 to 7 of 2019 for Fixed Line Services

Overview of inquiry process

The ACCC will shortly publish a discussion paper for this inquiry in July 2024 and seek submissions on the matters set out in this notice, namely, pricing options for the declared voice interconnection services and the key issues regarding non-price terms and conditions which could be included in any access determinations.

The time for making submissions will be a minimum of 28 days from the date the ACCC publishes its discussion paper. Submissions can be made in writing to telco.regulation@accc.gov.au, or as otherwise directed in the discussion paper.

After considering the submissions, the ACCC intends to arrive at a position regarding the proposed pricing approach for the voice interconnection services. If necessary, the ACCC may release a further discussion paper seeking further submissions on how any preferred pricing approach could be implemented.

The ACCC intends to release a draft report setting out its preliminary views on the price and non-price terms to be included in any new access determination for each of the voice interconnection services.

Following consultation on the draft report, the ACCC will release a final report.