Today's telecommunications industry operates in a market characterised by vigorous competition - but it wasn't always this way.
A report released today by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Infrastructure Industries: Telecommunications, traces the development of the industry, from 1975 when telephony was controlled by a government owned monopoly, to the present, where more than 60 carriers operate in a highly competitive market.
Since the introduction of competition, consumers have benefited from significant reductions in long distance, mobile and local telephone calls.
Infrastructure Industries: Telecommunications explains the ACCC's broader role in regulating the industry and ensuring access to network facilities for competitors.
The ACCC also has many consumer protection responsibilities in relation to telecommunications, and the report details its enforcement actions against a number of telecommunications carriers. The report discusses the ACCC's role in developing the industry advertising code, and preventing unauthorised customer transfer, or 'slamming'.
Cyberspace is the final frontier for consumer protection, and the report also explores the ACCC's role in protecting online consumers. The ACCC also regulates mergers and acquisitions by telecommunications service providers, and monitors prices.
Infrastructure Industries: Telecommunications provides a guide to other industry bodies cooperating with the ACCC, including the Australian Communications Authority, Australian Communications Industry Forum, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, and other international bodies.
To order a copy of Infrastructure Industries: Telecommunications please contact Robert Booth on (02) 6243 1143 or email robert.booth@accc.gov.au