Non-NBN fixed line services access regulation

What we do in regulating fixed line services

We regulate many non-NBN fixed line wholesale services

The ACCC regulates access to wholesale telecommunications services. As part of this role, we regulate:

superfast broadband access services (SBAS) supplied by non-NBN networks
a range of Telstra legacy fixed line wholesale access services, specifically the:
- unconditioned local loop service (ULLS)
- line sharing service (LSS)
- public switched telephone network originating access (PSTN OA) service
- public switched telephone network terminating access (PSTN TA) service
- wholesale line rental (WLR) service
- local carriage service (LCS)
- wholesale ADSL service.

We determine the price and non-price terms of access for retail service providers to access these services. We do this to ensure:

retail service providers have access to monopoly telecommunications networks
consumers can benefit from competition in the market.

We don’t control whether consumers have a choice of retail service providers.

We check that regulating the service remains necessary

The ACCC needs to periodically review the services we regulate.

We do this to check:

whether regulation is still necessary
that the price and non-price terms of access are suitable.

Our recent reviews of fixed line services are:

We set the rules for the supply of telecommunication services

We describe how we set rules for the supply of telecommunication services:

How competition in supplying landline telephone services benefits you

This fact sheet is part of a series explaining how our regulation of the telecommunications industry works.

How requiring Telstra to share its copper network benefits you

The ACCC promotes competition among companies supplying telephone and internet products by setting rules for how Telstra shares the use of its copper network.

How the ACCC ensures that you can make calls to people on all telephone networks

What you need to know about: How the ACCC ensures that you can make calls to people on all telephone networks

We run public inquiries on access decisions

We run a public inquiry when we are deciding whether:

to declare a service for access regulation
to extend, revoke, vary, allow to expire, or remake an existing service declaration before it expires.

See the telecommunications access declarations we have made. Select ‘Communications’ in the Industry list and ‘Access declaration’ in Type.

After running a public inquiry, we make a final access decision for the service. See the telecommunications access determinations we have made. Select ‘Communications’ in the Industry list and ‘Access determination’ in Type.

Current legislation doesn’t include dispute provisions

The ACCC no longer manages access disputes.

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Act 2010 removed access dispute provisions from the Trade Practices Act 1974 from 1 January 2011.

While changing to the new legislation, the Act allowed a party to notify the ACCC of an access dispute regarding a declared service. This could be done until we made a final access determination.

Arbitration determinations published by the ACCC as part of these provisions are in the ACCC public register.

The legal basis of our functions

We do this work under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Telecommunication Act 1997.

Our role in running public inquiries on access decisions is under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Fixed line service projects

See a complete list of telecommunications and internet projects.

Public inquiry into the declaration of the domestic transmission capacity service, fixed line services and domestic mobile terminating access service

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.

Superfast broadband access service (SBAS) final access determination inquiry 2021

On 19 July 2021 the ACCC commenced a public inquiry to make a final access determination for the superfast broadband access service (SBAS) following its decision to declare the service.

Wholesale ADSL service declaration inquiry 2021

On 30 July 2021 the ACCC commenced a public inquiry, under Part 25 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, into the declared wholesale asymmetrical digital subscriber line (WADSL) service. The ACCC has released a Consultation and position paper to facilitate its inquiry.

LBAS and SBAS declarations inquiry 2020

The ACCC has concluded its public inquiry into regulation of the superfast broadband access service (SBAS) and the local bitstream access service (LBAS).

Fixed line services declaration inquiry 2018

On 31 August 2018, the ACCC released a public consultation paper and position paper for the fixed line telecommunications services declaration inquiry.

Fixed line services final access determination inquiry 2018

On 12 December 2018, the ACCC commenced a combined public inquiry into making final access determinations for the 6 fixed line telecommunications services and the wholesale ADSL service.

Superfast broadband access service declaration inquiry

On 11 September 2014, the ACCC commenced a declaration inquiry into whether a superfast broadband access service, such as the very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) service, should be regulated under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Superfast broadband access service final access determination inquiry 2016

On 29 July 2016, the ACCC began a public inquiry to make a final access determination for the superfast broadband access service (SBAS) under section 152BC of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. This followed the release of the ACCC’s decision to declare the SBAS on 29 July 2016.

Wholesale ADSL service declaration inquiry 2016

On 4 July 2016 the ACCC commenced a public inquiry into whether the wholesale asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) service should continue to be declared.

Fixed line services - final access determination variation inquiry 2014

On 17 April 2014, the ACCC commenced a public inquiry into varying the final access determinations for the unconditioned local loop service (ULLS), line sharing service (LSS), wholesale line rental (WLR) service and local carriage service (LCS) to reflect the changes to the scope of fixed line services regulation.

Fixed line services declaration inquiry 2013

On 11 July 2013, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) commenced a combined public inquiry into the declaration of the fixed line services.

Wholesale ADSL final access determination 2013

On 29 May 2013, the ACCC made a final access determination for the declared Wholesale ADSL Service.

Local Bitstream Access Service (LBAS) declaration

On 22 February 2012, the ACCC made a decision to declare a layer 2 bitstream service, to be called the local bitstream access service (LBAS).

Local Bitstream Access Service (LBAS) final access determination 2012

On 3 October 2012, the ACCC made a final access determination for the Local Bitstream Access Service (LBAS). A copy of the LBAS final access determination is available on the public register of access determinations.

Fixed line services variation inquiry 2012

In accordance with clause 4.1B of the final access determinations, clause 4.1A of the final access determinations expired on 7 December 2012.

Wholesale ADSL declaration inquiry 2012

On 16 December 2011 the ACCC commenced an inquiry into declaration of wholesale ADSL services under section 152AL of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the Act).

Wholesale ADSL declaration inquiry 2010

In April 2011, following further consultation with industry participants, the ACCC decided not to commence a declaration inquiry.

Geographic exemption variation inquiry 2011

On 16 December 2011 the ACCC released a final decision to vary the final access determinations to remove the exemption provisions for the WLR, LCS and PSTN OA declared fixed line services.

Fixed line services final access determination 2011

On 20 July 2011 the ACCC made final access determinations for the declared fixed line services. The final access determinations are backdated to start on 1 January 2011 and expire on 30 June 2014.

Wholesale ADSL declaration inquiry 2010

In April 2011, following further consultation with industry participants, the ACCC decided not to commence a declaration inquiry.

Fixed line wholesale services pricing review 2009-10

On 3 December 2009 the ACCC announced a fundamental review of the Access Pricing Principles for telecommunications services. As a result of the review, the ACCC decided to maintain the current pricing principles and indicative prices for fixed line services until 31 December 2010.

Access pricing principles for fixed line services review

Given the legislative changes under the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Act 2010, the ACCC suspended the review of the access pricing principles for fixed line services.

WLR, LCS and PSTN OA class exemptions variation

On 18 November 2009, the ACCC released a final decision to vary the class exemptions for the WLR, LCS and PSTN OA services.

Australian Competition Tribunal orders in relation to WLR, LCS and PSTN OA service access exemption

The exemptions provisions relating to the WLR, LCS and PSTN OA services have been removed from the relevant final access determinations as of 17 December 2011. The exemptions no longer apply in any Exchange Service Areas.

Fixed network services declaration inquiry

On 15 July 2009, the ACCC issued a final decision to extend the declaration of each of the six fixed-line services for a period of five years until 31 July 2014.

Telstra - Unconditioned local loop service access undertaking 2008

On 22 April 2009 the ACCC decided to reject the Undertaking. The ACCC released a final decision to reject this Telstra and ULLS Undertaking on 28 April 2009.

Local carriage service and wholesale line rental pricing principles and indicative prices 2008-09

The ACCC has taken the submissions into account in developing the final pricing principles and indicative prices. The final report was released on 6 August 2008.

Unconditioned Local Loop Service pricing principles and indicative prices 2008-09

In November 2007, as part of the ACCC's strategic review of the regulation of fixed services, the ACCC issued an Unconditioned Local Loop Service (ULLS) pricing principles determination. The final report was released on 4 June 2008.

Possible variation of the ULLS declaration 2007

The ACCC's final view is that it is not satisfied that varying the ULLS service description at this time would promote the long-term interests of end users.

Model non-price terms and conditions

The ACCC held a consultation process about model non-price terms and conditions for the public switched telephone network (PSTN), unconditioned local loop service (ULLS) and local carriage service (LCS).

Telstra exemption application: Optus cable network areas 2007

On 11 November 2008, the ACCC issued a final decision rejecting Telstra's exemption application relating to the Optus HFC network

Telstra LCS and WLR exemption inquiry 2007

On 22 August 2008, the ACCC decided to grant Telstra exemptions from the standard access obligations in respect of the supply of the local carriage service and wholesale line rental subject to a number of proposed limitations and conditions.

G9 FANOC - Fibre to the node SAU

On 10 March 2008, FANOC formally advised that it was withdrawing the Special Access Undertaking.

Unconditioned Local Loop Service pricing principles 2007

The LSS pricing principles and indicative prices were published as part of the ACCC's LSS declaration review. That review was finalised in October 2007. The ULLS pricing principles were issued separately in November 2007.

LSS declaration inquiry 2007

The ACCC's strategic review commenced in December 2005 as an inquiry to examine the future regulation of certain fixed network services. In April 2007, the ACCC began a second stage of the review with the release of a position paper outlining a framework for the review of existing fixed services regulation and the principles that will guide future regulatory decisions.

Telstra - PSTN originating and terminating access and local carriage service undertaking

The undertaking sets out how Telstra proposed to meet its standard access obligations to supply PSTN OTA and the LCS from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2008.

Fixed network and local services pricing principles and indicative prices 2006-07

The ACCC released its final indicative prices in November 2006. The indicative prices relate to the 2006 and 2007 calendar years.

Telstra - Unconditioned local loop service monthly charge undertaking 2005

In December 2005 Telstra submitted two unconditioned local loop service (ULLS) undertakings.

Local services review 2005

The ACCC released its final indicative prices in November 2006.

Telstra - Unconditioned local loop service and line sharing service undertaking 2004

In December 2004 Telstra lodged unconditioned local loop service (ULLS) and line sharing service (LSS) undertakings. The undertakings set out how Telstra proposes to meet its standard access obligations to supply these services. The ACCC released its final decision on Telstra's LSS connection and disconnection charge undertaking in April 2006.

Telstra - Line sharing service undertaking 2003

In September 2003 Telstra lodged an access undertaking with the ACCC specifying the terms and conditions upon which it undertakes to meet its standard access obligations to supply the line sharing service (LSS).

Dispute resolution guidelines review

The ACCC released the current guide to the resolution of telecommunications access disputes in March 2004.

Telstra core services access undertaking

In December 2004 the ACCC released a final decision reiterating its draft views on LCS and PSTN.

Local number portability review and pricing principles

The ACCC has outlined a number of pricing principles guidelines to refer to if required to arbitrate a number portability dispute.

Model price terms and conditions

The ACCC held a consultation process about model price terms and conditions for the public switched telephone network (PSTN), unconditioned local loop service (ULLS) and local carriage service (LCS).

Bundling in telecommunications markets

In August 2003 the ACCC released an information paper on bundling in the telecommunications industry.

Local carriage service access exemption

In July 2002 the ACCC granted two separate exemptions in response to an application from Telstra for exemption from its obligations to supply the local carriage service to its competitors in CBD areas of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Unconditioned local loop services pricing principles 2002

The ACCC declared the unconditioned local loop service (ULLS) in July 1999. In response to a discussion paper, submissions were received from several interested parties and these views were taken into account in developing the final report released in April 2002.

Local carriage services pricing principles 2002

The revised final report issued in April 2002 confirms the approach and includes indicative prices.

Telstra - PSTN undertaking 1999

Following consultation and analysis the undertaking was rejected and a final report outlining the decision was issued in July 2000.

Telstra's AMPS/GSM/PSTN undertaking - November 1997

In November 1997 Telstra lodged three undertakings with the ACCC specifying the terms and conditions upon which Telstra proposed to meet its standard access obligations to supply PSTN, GSM (digital mobile) and AMPS (analogue mobile) origination and termination services.

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