ACCC to report on corporate telco competition

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission plans to make its first report on competition in corporate telco markets in Q1 next year.

Michael Cosgrave, general manager of telecommunications at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) told iTnews that it was hopeful of getting an initial report to the Minister during the first quarter of next year. The reports were to be carried out six-monthly after that, he said.

The ACCC was required to prepare the six-monthly reports following a Ministerial Direction issued earlier this year, according to a statement from the watchdog.

“We're seeking initial comment from industry in terms of the level of competition, and also the framework for this and future reports,” Cosgrave said.

He expected to get comments from organisations such as carriers competing for customers in the corporate market, and industry groups.

The ACCC issued the discussion paper today, which looked at issues such as its proposed methods for analysing competition in the corporate customer segment of the telco sector.

Definitions, current participants, and the current and anticipated future state of competition in the sector were also among the areas the discussion paper sought comment on, according to the ACCC statement.