The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today announced a public inquiry into whether to "declare" services facilitating intercarrier roaming between existing and new digital mobile networks, to be established in the 800 MHz and 1.8 GHz bands.
Services can be declared if the ACCC is satisfied that doing so would be in the long term interests of end users.
Intercarrier roaming allows a customer from one mobile telephone network to access service from another network using the same terminal. For example, roaming can enable the customers of a new mobile carrier in the 1.8 GHz band in say a metropolitan area to use an existing GSM network where the new network has no presence, such as in regional or country areas.
The ACCC's decision follows a request from the Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts in regard to the establishment of rights of intercarrier roaming:
between the existing GSM digital mobile services and new services which may be offered in the 1.8 GHz band; and
between digital mobile services which may be offered in the 800 MHz band.
The ACCC was asked to work with interested parties and the Telecommunications Access Forum to establish what services needed to be declared to enable intercarrier roaming with a view to determining whether a public inquiry is appropriate and, if so, undertake such an inquiry. The ACCC has consulted and sought separate technical advice on the nature of roaming and related services.
To assist the inquiry and provide a focus for comment, the ACCC has released a discussion paper which identifies more pertinent issues to be considered. This includes the legislative background to the inquiry and the specific issues which are considered relevant to the possible declaration. The ACCC seeks written comments on its discussion paper from interested parties, by 21 December 1997. A public meeting should be held in late January 1998 to provide an open forum on the matter.
Copies of the discussion paper are available from ACCC offices and the paper can also be accessed from the ACCC's Internet website http://www.accc.gov.au
For further information about this media release: Chris Pattas, Director Access, (03) 9290 1858 or (0419) 347 430 Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (06) 264 2808
Services can be declared if the ACCC is satisfied that doing so would be in the long term interests of end users.
Intercarrier roaming allows a customer from one mobile telephone network to access service from another network using the same terminal. For example, roaming can enable the customers of a new mobile carrier in the 1.8 GHz band in say a metropolitan area to use an existing GSM network where the new network has no presence, such as in regional or country areas.
The ACCC's decision follows a request from the Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts in regard to the establishment of rights of intercarrier roaming:
between the existing GSM digital mobile services and new services which may be offered in the 1.8 GHz band; and
between digital mobile services which may be offered in the 800 MHz band.
The ACCC was asked to work with interested parties and the Telecommunications Access Forum to establish what services needed to be declared to enable intercarrier roaming with a view to determining whether a public inquiry is appropriate and, if so, undertake such an inquiry. The ACCC has consulted and sought separate technical advice on the nature of roaming and related services.
To assist the inquiry and provide a focus for comment, the ACCC has released a discussion paper which identifies more pertinent issues to be considered. This includes the legislative background to the inquiry and the specific issues which are considered relevant to the possible declaration. The ACCC seeks written comments on its discussion paper from interested parties, by 21 December 1997. A public meeting should be held in late January 1998 to provide an open forum on the matter.
Copies of the discussion paper are available from ACCC offices and the paper can also be accessed from the ACCC's Internet website http://www.accc.gov.au
For further information about this media release: Chris Pattas, Director Access, (03) 9290 1858 or (0419) 347 430 Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (06) 264 2808