The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has officially launched a 12-month inquiry into regional mobile coverage across Australia to determine whether regulating wholesale access to mobile services could significantly improve outcomes for consumers.
This comprehensive public inquiry will evaluate whether the regulator should declare specific wholesale mobile services, including domestic roaming and radio access network sharing. If declared under Part 25 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, infrastructure owners would be legally required to grant competitors access to their networks on regulated terms, ensuring all providers can deliver competitive communications services. Domestic roaming would allow Australians to use alternative networks when traveling outside their primary provider’s coverage area, while shared radio access networks could enable operators to share physical towers while managing their own customer bases.
ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey highlighted the critical timing of the review, noting that rapid technological changes—such as direct-to-device low Earth orbit satellites and novel network-sharing arrangements—are transforming the telecommunications landscape. She emphasized that consumers in regional areas need affordable, reliable coverage, while investors simultaneously require certainty to make efficient infrastructure commitments.
The decision to launch the inquiry also aligns with key upcoming milestones, including the proposed Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation in 2027 and the ACMA’s scheduled 2 GHz spectrum allocation. Throughout the next year, the commission will analyze market competition, consumer choice, and the impact regulation might have on future network investments. Crucially, the ACCC maintains a neutral stance and will only declare a service if clear evidence demonstrates a long-term benefit for end users. To gather widespread feedback, the ACCC plans to publish a discussion paper shortly and host public forums across regional and remote communities to hear directly from impacted residents.
