Telstra claims Act hinders broadband growth

Group managing director for Telstra Public Policy and Communication, David Quilty - told Global Access Partners (GAP) Congress on Regulatory Affairs the existing regime - first introduced in 1997, had failed to keep pace with the fast-changing technological evolution of the industry.

Quilty said that a GAP Taskforce report on Directions for reform of Part XIC of the Trade Practices Act identified a number of reforms urgently required to provide benefits both to access providers and access seekers.

The report stated that: “Part XIC has clearly not delivered the necessary fixed network investment required for a world-class telecommunications infrastructure”.

“By failing to achieve the right balance between builders and buyers at such a critical time, Part XIC has left Australia playing a dangerous game of catch-up.”

“If Part XIC is not reformed, then the inevitable result will be sub-standard levels of investment; sub-standard high-speed broadband infrastructure; and sub-standard services for consumers and small businesses in the very area that is central to the nation s future productivity and competitiveness, stated the report.

According to Quilty, the objective of the Taskforce was to look at how to reform this regime in a way that will encourage investment and provide certainty for all involved, he said.

“While at the same time ensuring that there continues to be fair and open access to true bottlenecks and a safety net to prevent and clamp down on anti-competitive behaviour," he said.

"Australia has reached a tipping point on broadband," he claimed.

Quilty claimed that taken as a whole, the reforms set out in the report would lead to a regime that is less intrusive and more attuned to efficient investment in telecoms infrastructure.