TPG faces court over Triple Zero access

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is set to haul TPG Internet before the Federal Court, alleging the provider failed to give certain customers access to the Triple Zero or 000 emergency call service.

ACMA says the failures took place over a period of six months, between March and September last year.

"All Australians need to be assured that their telecommunications provider attaches the utmost priority to Triple Zero access," ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said.

"We take any issues with access to the Triple Zero service very seriously."

TPG had little to say on the matter, with an email statement indicating, “TPG received the proceedings yesterday and will consider them with its lawyers in due course”.

Carriers must provide customer access to the operator-assisted 000 service by law and through a written determination made by ACMA in 2009, unless it isn't technically feasible to do so, or beyond the provider's control.

This isn't the first time TPG has run afoul of the authorities. In April the company was fined $132,000 for misleading advertisements about voice calling on its network.

In June this year, it was hit with a $2 million fine from the Federal Court after the ACCC undertook action against the company for running misleading advertisements regarding the true scope and cost of an unlimited internet bundle.

Customers affected by the second set of misleading ads were subsequently allowed to exit their contracts without penalty.