About mobile terminating services
To use your mobile phone to make calls it must be connected to a mobile phone network. The network you are connected to depends on who your mobile service provider is.
When you receive a mobile call from someone who is on a different mobile phone network than you the call is:
- first transferred from their network to your network
- then carried over your network to your mobile phone. This final step is mobile termination.
Network operators charge each other for providing these mobile termination services.
What we do in regulating mobile termination
The ACCC is responsible for regulating access to wholesale telecommunications services. As part of this role, we regulate mobile termination services.
We set the terms for the termination of wholesale voice services. This includes the price terms and non-price terms. It is known as the mobile terminating access service.
We regulate mobile termination services to:
- stop mobile operators abusing their monopoly over mobile termination
- keep mobile phone services competitive for consumers.
Because we regulate mobile terminating services:
- mobile operators can’t refuse to provide mobile termination to other network operators
- prices, terms and conditions set by the ACCC apply to mobile termination services when operators can’t agree on what’s fair
- mobile phone users can call any mobile phone user in Australia, no matter what network they use.
The legal basis of our functions
Our work is under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Mobile projects
On 31 May 2023, the ACCC commenced a combined public inquiry to decide whether to extend, revoke, vary the following 9 declarations or whether to allow them to expire.
In March 2022, the ACCC was directed to conduct an inquiry into towers used in the supply of radiocommunications services in regional areas, and into the feasibility of providing mobile roaming during natural disasters and emergencies.
The Mobile Infrastructure Report provides analysis on the change in mobile network operators' (MNOs) mobile infrastructure and coverage.
When the ACMA is allocating spectrum licences, it may impose limits (competition limits) on the amount of spectrum that a person can acquire under the allocated licences. In determining allocation limits, the ACMA is required to consult with the ACCC on the competition limits that may be appropriate.
During the domestic mobile roaming declaration inquiry, the ACCC received submissions from many regional stakeholders regarding regional mobile issues, such as inadequate mobile coverage and coverage information. At the end of the inquiry, the ACCC released a separate paper.
On 5 September 2016, the ACCC commenced an inquiry into whether to declare a wholesale domestic mobile roaming service.
The ACCC is holding a public inquiry under section 497 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) on whether to extend, vary, or revoke the current domestic mobile terminating access service (MTAS) final access determination.
The ACCC commenced an inquiry into whether to extend, vary or revoke the domestic mobile terminating access service declaration, or whether to make a new declaration.
The ACCC commences a public inquiry into making a final access determination for the Mobile Terminating Access Service (MTAS).
The ACCC commenced an inquiry into whether to extend, vary or revoke the domestic mobile terminating access service declaration, or whether to make a new declaration.
The ACCC concluded its public inquiry into the declaration of the mobile terminating access service (MTAS) by releasing its final report on 28 May 2009.
On 8 December 2011 the ACCC released a final access determination for the mobile terminating access service (MTAS) for the period 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2014.
The ACCC announced a review of mobile services in March 2003 and released a discussion paper in April 2003.
On 19 March 2009, the ACCC released final pricing principles and indicative prices for the mobile terminating access service (MTAS) for the period of 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011.
After considering interested parties’ submissions, the ACCC released the draft mobile terminating access service pricing principles determination for the period 1 July 2007 to 31 December 2008.
In March 2002 the ACCC varied the GSM termination services declaration to make it technology neutral.
On 16 February 2007 Optus lodged an ordinary access undertaking (Optus 2007 Undertaking) with the ACCC about the mobile terminating access service (MTAS).
On 23 June 2006, the ACCC issued its final decision to reject Hutchison's undertakings.
On 23 December 2004 Optus lodged an ordinary access undertaking with the ACCC about the mobile terminating access service (MTAS).
The ACCC released a Final decision on the Vodafone MTAS undertaking on the 31 March 2006.
Following public consultation, the ACCC revoked both declarations relating to the AMPS service, as the closure of the AMPS network on 31 December 2000 made these declarations redundant.
On 8 October 1998, the ACCC commenced a public inquiry into whether to declare under Part XIC of the Trade Practices Act 1974, a service which would enable service providers to supply the long distance transmission component of long distance and international calls made from mobile phones.
In March 2002 the ACCC varied the GSM service declarations, including other mobile services currently in use and making the declarations technology neutral.
