The ACCC is seeking feedback on a discussion paper detailing Telstra’s proposed variation to the NBN Migration Plan to facilitate the rollout of fibre to the curb technology (FTTC).
In 2015 the ACCC approved a revised Migration Plan which details how Telstra will progressively migrate existing customers’ telephone and internet services to multi-technology mix NBN services.
Telstra’s proposed variation will facilitate the rollout of FTTC by NBN Co as an access technology. The rollout of FTTC is planned to commence in 2018.
“The ACCC will be considering whether the proposed changes offer adequate protections for customers to maintain access to the services they value during migration to the NBN,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.
“Once the FTTC technology is ready to be deployed, the migration plan is intended to promote efficient disconnections and minimal disruption in the switchover to NBN-based services. It is important that the existing service is not disconnected without the customer’s consent until the NBN-based service is successfully activated.”
The ACCC is required to undertake a 28-day consultation period in relation to the proposed variation and is seeking feedback from interested parties.
Interested parties are invited to make written submissions by 5 January 2018 to: ssu-migration@accc.gov.au.
The Discussion Paper and further information is available on the ACCC website.
Background
The Migration Plan sets out the steps that Telstra will take to progressively migrate voice and broadband services from its copper and hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) networks to the NBN as it is rolled out across Australia. The current Migration Plan incorporates the shift to a multi-technology mix (MTM) NBN and was approved by the ACCC in June 2015.
The ACCC’s consideration of the proposed variation is limited to whether or not the Migration Plan, as varied, complies with Migration Plan Principles issued by the Australian Government in 2015.