What the ACCC does
- We set prices for certain wholesale transmission services.
- We may get involved in access disputes about wholesale facilities and equipment.
What the ACCC can't do
- We don’t regulate all transmission services - only some.
On this page
About transmission services
Transmission services are high-capacity data links. They are usually fibre cables that run down suburban streets or between cities and regional centres.
Transmission, often called ‘backhaul':
- carries large volumes of voice, internet and video traffic between two locations
- forms the basis of the entire communications network.
What we do in regulating transmission services
The ACCC regulates transmission services where wholesale competition is lacking.
We regulate and set prices for certain wholesale transmission services. We may also get involved in access disputes about wholesale telecommunications facilities and equipment.
We do this to:
- ensure service providers can supply high quality and reliable products to consumers in all areas of the country
- help keep communication services competitive
- encourage competition, efficient use of and investment in telecommunication networks.
The legal basis of our functions
Our work is under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Transmission services and facility access projects
Following its decision to extend and vary the declaration of the DTCS for another 5 years, the ACCC has commenced a final access determination inquiry.
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.
The Telstra Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021 came in to force in December 2021.
On 5 June 2019, the ACCC released a consultation paper to formally commence a public inquiry into making a final access determination for the domestic transmission capacity service (DTCS).
The ACCC’s A Code of Access to Telecommunications Transmission Towers, Sites of Towers and Underground Facilities was made under Clause 37 of Part 5 of Schedule 1 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
On 5 March 2018 the ACCC commenced an inquiry into the Domestic Transmission Capacity Service (DTCS) including whether to extend, vary or revoke the DTCS declaration.
On 7 November 2014, the ACCC commenced a public inquiry into varying the 2012 domestic transmission capacity service (DTCS) final access determination.
On 23 May 2014, the ACCC commenced a public inquiry into making a final access determination for the domestic transmission capacity service (DTCS).
On 11 July 2013 the ACCC commenced an inquiry into the Domestic Transmission Capacity Service
The ACCC published a final access determination for the domestic transmission capacity service (DTCS) in June 2012.
On 30 September 2010 the ACCC issued a final report varying the domestic transmission capacity service (DTCS) declaration. In the final report the ACCC decided to vary the DTCS service description to include Ethernet network interfaces.
On 19 March 2009, the ACCC released a final report on the DTCS declaration inquiry.
The ACCC released its final decision on 25 November 2008 in regards to Telstra's application seeking exemption from the standard access obligations of the DTCS.
Following a public inquiry in 2003-04, a new declaration for the domestic transmission capacity service started on 1 April 2004 and expired on 31 March 2009.
On 29 October 2008 the ACCC made two individual exemption orders exempting Telstra from the standard access obligations in respect of the supply of the Public Switched Telephone Network Originating Access (PSTN OA) service.
In May 2001 the ACCC varied the domestic transmission capacity service declaration, removing the remaining intercapital transmission routes from the service description.
On 18 September 2013 the ACCC decided to vary the Facilities Access Code.
On 23 November 2010, the ACCC issued a Position Paper announcing its proposed domestic benchmarking approach to transmission pricing.
During 2003-04, the ACCC conducted a public consultation on pricing principles for the domestic transmission capacity service (DTCS), releasing its final report in September 2004.
The ACCC released the final version of the telecommunications transmission cost model in April 2008.