The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission continues to closely monitor Telstra's rollout of services that will allow both Telstra and its competitors to provide high speed Internet services using Telstra's copper network, ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.
The ACCC has again directed Telstra to provide it with extensive details concerning the scope and timeframes it delivers services on its copper network to itself and its competitors.
The ACCC has now required Telstra to maintain and provide to the ACCC detailed records concerning the deployment and fault handling of this new technology that allows new generation services such as video-on-demand and video conferencing. These applications have become possible via technology such as Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line technology.
"For historical reasons, Telstra is both the owner of this new broadband highway as well as a retailer of services that rely on that pathway, so there is always the possibility or perception that it might give its own products the inside running.
"The requirement to provide the ACCC data on Telstra's wholesale and retail service delivery for local loop services will make Telstra's role in the delivery of high speed data services more transparent.
"The Trade Practices Act requires Telstra to take all reasonable steps to ensure equivalence of technical and operational quality to the copper to what it provides itself. These are similar equivalence requirements in relation to fault detection, handling and rectification.
"Non-discriminatory access to this copper wire will facilitate competition for new generation e-commerce, real-time video and other new applications. This increase in competition will make these products more readily available to consumers at market prices".
Under previous directions Telstra reports weekly to the ACCC on the timeframes that it gives its competitors access to its exchanges so that its competitors can install equipment to run new voice and data services to customers.
"Telstra's ubiquitous copper network is an important platform for e-commerce, education and entertainment services, so it is essential that consumers benefit now from competition in the provision of these services.
"Requiring Telstra to report regularly on its performance in the delivery of services both to itself and its competitors will greatly assist the ACCC in discharging its Telecommunications functions under the Act".