Communications
market report
2021–22
December 2022
accc.gov.au
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
23 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601
© Commonwealth of Australia 2022
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ACCC 12/22_22–71
www.accc.gov.au
iii
Communications market report – 2021–22
Contents
Listofacronyms iv
CompetitionandpricechangesintelecommunicationsservicesinAustralia vi
ExecutiveSummary viii
 Introduction
 Keymarketdevelopments
 Retailmarkets
 Infrastructurecompetition
 Pricingandconsumertrends
 Approachtopricingmethodologies
 NBNfixedbroadband
 Non-NBNfixed-linebroadband 
 Mobile 
 Fixed-linevoice 
 Satellite 
 Wholesalemarkets 
 Telecommunicationsconsumercomplaints 
 ACCCactivitiesincommunications 
 Regulatedaccesstotelecommunications 
 NBNregulation 
 Telstra’sStructuralSeparationUndertakingandMigrationPlan 
 Monitoringandreporting 
 Enforcementandcomplianceactivities 
 Industryandconsumereducationactivities 
 Mergersauthorisationsandexclusivedealings 
 Adviceadvocacyandcontributionstopolicyprocesses 
 Appendices 
 Othercompetitionindicators
 Advertisedpriceapproachtopricemonitoring 
 Hedonicapproachtopricemonitoring 
 Limitationsofpricemonitoringapproaches 
iv
Communications market report – 2021–22
List of acronyms
ACCC AustralianCompetitionandConsumerCommission
ACL AustralianConsumerLaw
ACMA AustralianCommunicationsandMediaAuthority
ADSL asymmetricaldigitalsubscriberline
AVC accessvirtualcircuit
CCA CompetitionandConsumerAct()
CVC connectivityvirtualcircuit
DSL digitalsubscriberline
FTTB fibre-to-the-basement
FTTC fibre-to-the-curb
FTTP fibre-to-the-premises
FTTN fibre-to-the-node
GB gigabyte
Gbps gigabitspersecond
GHz gigahertz
HFC hybridfibrecoaxial
LEO lowearthorbit
LTRC M longtermrevenueconstraintmethodology
MBA MeasuringBroadbandAustralia
Mbps megabitspersecond
MHz megahertz
NBNCo NBNCoLimited
MNO mobilenetworkoperator
MOCN multi-operatorcorenetwork
MVNO mobilevirtualnetworkoperator
NBN NationalBroadbandNetwork
POI pointofinterconnect
RKR RecordKeepingRules
RSP retailserviceprovider
SAU SpecialAccessUndertaking
SBAS superfastbroadbandaccessservice
SIO serviceinoperation
SMS shortmessageservice
SSU StructuralSeparationUndertaking
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Tbps terabitspersecond
TIO TelecommunicationsIndustryOmbudsman
TPG TPGTelecomLimited
TPGInternet TPGInternetPtyLtd
TV television
VoIP voiceoverinternetprotocol
G thirdgenerationwirelesstechnology
G fourthgenerationwirelesstechnology
G fifthgenerationwirelesstechnology
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Competition and price changes in
telecommunications services in Australia
Annual 75th percentile
advertised price
Mobile phone
services
Mobile
broadband
Annual
telecommunications
complaints
Annual 75th percentile
advertised price
Fixed
broadband
17%5,149
11.5%
9.1%
Annual feature
adjusted price index
15.3%
Annual 75th percentile
advertised price
0.2%4%
Annual 25th percentile
advertised price
Annual median
advertised price
Annual 25th percentile
advertised price
Annual median
advertised price
11.6%
Annual feature
adjusted price index
Annual 25th percentile
advertised price
Annual median
advertised price
3.6% 4.7% 9%
Annual feature
adjusted price index
6%
0%
0%
ACCC telecommunications
complaints received
Telecommunications complaints
received by the ACCC
33%79,534
Telecommunications Industry
Ombudsman complaints received
Complaints received by the
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Key ACCC projects
Key market developments
NBN in regulatory
transition stage
Networks expanding
and improving
Investigations and
consumer protection
Measuring
Broadband Australia
Consumer
education
NBN Special Access
Undertaking
Smaller competitors
growing
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Executive Summary
ThisistheACCC’sannualreportonAustraliancommunicationsmarketsfor–It
includesanoverviewofkeymarketdevelopmentsobservationsoncompetitionwithinthe
sectorandidentifiestrendsandemergingissuesItalsoassessesthechangesinpricespaidby
consumersfortelecommunicationsservicesandexaminescompetitivesafeguardswithinthe
telecommunicationsindustry
TheCOVID-pandemiccontinuedtoaectAustralia’stelecommunicationsinfrastructureThefirst
halfof–witnessedlockdownsandrestrictionsaectingallpartsofAustraliaDuringthisperiod
schoolshouseholdsandmanyAustraliancompaniestransitionedbacktoremoteworkinglearningand
socialisingThisrequiredonlineaccessandincreaseduseofhigh-datavideocommunications
Thesecondhalfof–sawtheremovalofCOVID-restrictionsreturntoschool-basedlearning
andincreasedopportunitiesforworkinginocesHoweverthepandemichaschangedtheway
consumersinteractwithandusecommunicationsservicesItisexpectedthatmanyofthesetrends
willextendbeyondthepandemicForexamplemanyhouseholdshaveadoptedmoreflexiblewaysfor
workingwhichusedata-intensiveactivities(suchasvideocontent)moreheavily
Consumer prices for NBN services increased without a
corresponding increase in service standards
Over–advertisedpricesforNationalBroadbandNetwork(NBN)plansincreasedPricesof
planswithhigherspecificationsincreasedatagreaterratecomparedtoentry-levelorbasicplansKey
pricechangeswere
entry-levelorbasicNBNplanswithlowerspeedsincreasedbyorpermonth
middle-of-the-rangeNBNplansincreasedbyorpermonth
consumersonhigher-endandveryhigh-speedplanspaidaroundorpermonthmore
Feature-adjustedNBNpricesdecreasedbyaroundonceadjustedforchangesinplanspeedsand
dataallowances
NBNservicestandardsremainedlargelyunchangedovertheyearwithNBNCoreportingbroadly
consistentperformanceagainstthekeyconsumerfacingoperatingmetricsfromAugustwiththe
resolutionofproblemsaectingitsappointmentschedulingsystem
MeasuringBroadbandAustralia(MBA)resultsshowedaslightupwardtrendindownloadspeedmetrics
over–forNBNfixed-lineservicesbutwithfurtherimprovementspossiblefordownloadspeeds
duringthebusyeveninghoursanduploadspeedsduringallhoursUploadspeedsareincreasingly
importantforremoteworkingandlearningaswellasonlinegamingandfilesharing
ConsumerdemandforNBNservicescontinuedtoconsolidateatthemegabitspersecond
(Mbps)speedtierwiththeseservicesaccountingforofallNBNretailservicesTheproportionof
consumersonMbpsservicesincreasedwithreductionsinservicesonboththeentrylevelandvery
high(greaterthanMbps)speedtiers
OvertheperiodofthisreportNBNCooeredtemporarywholesalediscountstoencouragethe
take-upofhighandveryhigh-speedplansThe‘Focus-on-Fast’andthe‘SuperfastPlus’rebateswere
oereduntilJulyandJanuaryrespectivelyAlthoughtheserebateswerepopularwhilein
markettheydidnotleadtoasignificantongoingshifttowardshigherspeeds
 Forfurtherinformationonthefeature-adjustedor‘hedonic’pricingapproachseesectionoftheAppendix
 NBNCoHowwe’retrackingSeptemberaccessedNovember
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Economic regulation of the NBN remains at a
transition point
ThefutureregulationoftheNBNwasakeyareaoffocusaheadofthemoduleofNBNCo’sSpecial
AccessUndertakingexpiringafterJuneBoththescopeandthefundamentalnatureofits
variouscommitmentsareunderconsiderationnowthatNBNCohascompleteditsscalebuild
ACCC-convenedworkinggroupsmeteachweekthroughthesecondhalfoftoidentifythekey
competitioneciencyandconsumerissuesandpotentialregulatoryapproachestothemNBNCo
lodgedanSAUvariationproposalwhichtheACCCpublishedinMaybutNBNCosubsequently
withdrewthisproposalbaseduponstakeholderfeedbackOnNovemberNBNColodgeda
newvariationproposalwitharrangementstoapplyfromJuly
G mobile coverage increased but consumers still likely
paying for larger data allowances than they may need
AllnationalMobileNetworkOperators(MNOs)continuedtomakelargeinvestmentsintheirGrollout
resultinginimprovedcoverageTheACCC’sfirstandsecondMobileInfrastructureReportsshowed
thatGdeploymentshiftedintoregionalareasduringafterbeinginitiallyfocusedonmajorcities
duringAtthesametimeGservicesincreasinglybecameafocalpointofcompetitionamongthe
MNOsMobileVirtualNetworkOperators(MVNOs)alsostartedoeringGservicesafterpreviously
beingpreventedbyMNOsThiswillprovidemoreoptionsforconsumers
Overalltheadvertisedpricesformobileservicesin–werelargelyunchangedwithprice
increasesimplementedbyTelstraandOptusearlyinthe–financialyearHoweverdata
allowancescontinuedtoincreaseComparedto–mediandataallowancesforentry-levelplans
increasedbytogigabytes(GB)middle-of-the-rangeplansincreasedbytoGBand
higher-endplansincreasedtoGBToputtheseincreasesincontextconsumersdownloadedon
averageGBpermonth
Whilehigher-valueplansprovideconsumerswiththeabilitytodownload
moreconsumersshouldcontinuetoensuretheirplansoertherightlevelofvalue-for-money
accordingtotheirneeds
ThenatureofmobiletowerinfrastructureownershipchangedsubstantiallyovertheyearHistorically
MNOslargelyownedtheirpassivetowerinfrastructureHoweverduring–allMNOsdivested
orsoldeitheralloralargeproportionoftheirmobiletowersMNOscontinuetohavelong-term
arrangementswiththenewmobiletowerownersTheACCCisexaminingtheimplicationsofthe
changeinownershipaspartoftheRegionalMobileInfrastructureInquiry
ACCC enforcement actions and compliance measures are
protecting consumers
TheACCCundertookarangeofenforcementactionstoprotectpotentiallyvulnerableconsumersand
toactagainstmisleadingrepresentationsabouttheservicesconsumersacquire
TheACCCinstitutedseparateproceedingsagainstTelstraTPGInternetandOptusformakingfalse
ormisleadingrepresentationsinpromotingsomeMbpsandMbpsNBNbroadbandplansThe
ACCCallegedthatdespiterepresentingthattheywouldallcompaniesfailedtoproperlycheckand
oerremediesforunderperforminglinespeedsformanycustomersInNovembertheFederal
Courtorderedpenaltiestotallingmillionaftereachpartyadmittedmakingfalseormisleading
representationstoconsumerswhenpromotingcertainNBNinternetplans
 ACCCInternetActivityRKR–reports
 ACCCTelcostopayatotalofmillionformisleadingstatementsaboutNBNmaximumspeedsNovember
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Communications market report – 2021–22
TheACCCexpectsRSPstobeproactivelyexaminingtheirspeedclaimsandtherepresentationsmade
toconsumersToassistwiththistheACCChaspublishedupdatedindustryguidanceforbroadband
speedclaims
TheoveralllevelofcomplaintstotheACCCrelatingtotelecommunicationsserviceshasdeclined
slightlysince–andagainstmostproviderswithservicequalityandconnectionissuescontinuing
tobesignificantconsumerconcerns
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Communications market report – 2021–22
. Introduction
TheAustralianCompetitionandConsumerCommission(ACCC)releasestheCommunications
MarketReporteveryyearThereportdetailsrecentcompetitivesafeguardactivitiesintheAustralian
telecommunicationsindustryandthepricespaidbyconsumersfortelecommunicationsservicesas
requiredbytheCompetitionandConsumerAct(CCA)
TheACCChasabroadroleintheAustraliantelecommunicationssectorincludingcompetitionand
accessfunctionsresponsibilitiesrelatingtotheNBNmonitoringandreportingandcompliancework
undertheCCAandothertelecommunications-specificlegislation
Thestructureofthisreportisasfollows
Chapterhighlightsthekeydevelopmentsfromthelastyearthathaveinfluencedboththemarkets
andtheACCC’sworkincommunications
Chaptersetsoutretailpricingandconsumertrendsforthe–financialyearThischapter
providesinsightsintopricechangesusingmethodologiesadvertisedpricesandfeature-adjusted
nominalprices
ChapterreviewstheACCC’sengagementinthecommunicationssectorin–It
outlinesACCCactionsthathavebeentakentosafeguardbothcompetitionandconsumers
TelecommunicationsasanessentialserviceremainsanACCCcomplianceandenforcementpriority
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Communications market report – 2021–22
. Key market developments
 Retail markets
 DemandforNBNconsumerservicesconsolidatedattheMbps
speedtierwithsomegrowthattheMbpsspeedtier
DemandforNBNservicesremainedfocusedontheMbpsspeedtierwiththeseservicesaccounting
forofallNBNwholesaleservicesasshowninTablebelowAmongsttheremainingspeedtiers
theMbpstiergrewinpopularitywhiletheproportionofconsumersonentrylevelandveryhigh-
speedservices(greaterthanMbps)declined
Table 1: NBN Wholesale – proportion of residential broadband services
Mbps Mbps Mbps WirelessPlus Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps
June        
June        
Over–NBNCotestedconsumerdemandforhighandveryhigh-speedplansbyoering
temporaryrebatesforneworupgradedservicesattheMbpsandabovespeedtiers
Although
theserebateswerepopularwhileinmarkettheydidnotleadtoasignificantongoingshifttowards
higherspeeds
ForinstancetheproportionofconsumerbroadbandservicesontheMbpsspeedtierincreased
frominDecembertoreachapeakofinJunebutslowlydeclinedasindividual
servicerebatesexpiredaftermonthsandhadreturnedtoasteadylevelbytheendofMarch
 MeasuringBroadbandAustraliareportfindings–download
speedmetricsimprovebutfurthergainspossibleupload
speedsanissue
TheACCC’sMBAreportscontinuedtodemonstratewhetherconsumersreceivethenetworkquality
inlinewiththeirselectedplanspecificationsastheyrelyheavilyonbroadbandforworkeducation
andentertainment
Downloadspeedsimproved
TheMBAreportsshowedaslightupwardtrendinthebusy-hourdownloadspeedmetricsforNBN
fixed-lineservicesduring–asshowninTablebelow
Table 2: Average download speed as a percentage of plan speed during busy-hours for 50Mbps plans
Periodmonitored ofplanspeed
September 
December 
February 
May 
Howeverbenchmarkingonalike-for-likebasisagainstsuperfastnetworksinNewZealandshowed
furthergainsarepossible
 NBNCoNBNLaunchesnewfocusonfastcampaignOctober
 ACCCMeasuringBroadbandTrans-TasmanreportJune
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Communications market report – 2021–22
TheMBAreportsalsoshowedNBNFixedWirelessPlusservicesdownloadspeedsimprovingsteadily
duringbusyhoursacross–TheimprovementindownloadspeedsisduetoachangeNBNCo
madeinJulywhichallowedaoverprovisioningallowanceonthedownloadcomponentof
NBNfixedwirelessplans
Uploadsfallshortofmaximumplanspeeds
OntheotherhandNBNuploadspeedmetricshavenotimprovedsignificantlysinceearlyUpload
speedmetricsremainsubstantiallybelowboththeobserveddownloadspeedmetricsandthespecified
wholesalespeedtier
ThisisduetoNBNConotoverprovisioningtheuploadlinkasitdoesforthe
downloadlink
Withuploadspeedsincreasinglyimportantforarangeofapplicationsthatsupportworkingand
learningfromhomeonlinegamingandsharingfilesincreasingtheprovisioningoftheuploadlink
wouldappearanecientmeansbywhichNBNCocouldboostperformance
Urban-regionaldierencesremain
ConsumersinbothurbanandregionalAustraliawithNBNfixed-lineservicesexperiencedasignificant
improvementindownloadspeedssinceNovember‘Allhours’downloadspeedsincreased
inurbanareas
frominAugusttoinFebruaryandinregionalareasfrom
toHoweverregionalfixed-lineservicesstillhavesomewaytogotobeonparwith
urbanconnections
 SmallerRSPsincreasedNBNmarketshare
SmallerRSPscontinuedtoincreasetheirresidentialbroadbandmarketshareintheNBNwholesale
marketThecombinedmarketshareofthetopNBNaccessseekers(TelstraOptusTPGTelecom
(TPG)andVocus)decreasedforthethirdconsecutiveyearalbeitremainingatastillhighofall
servicesSmallerRSPsaccountedforofthemarketintheJunequarterupfromin
JuneThisgrowthwasledbyAussieBroadbandwhichincreaseditsmarketshareto(up
percentagepoints)
SmallerRSPshaveexpandedcoverageatNBNpointsofinterconnect(POI)withseveralachieving
anationalNBNpresenceduringthe–periodManyothersmallerRSPsexpandedtheirPOI
coveragewiththeimprovedavailabilityofNBNbackhaulakeyfactorByJuneallthePOIs
hadatleastaccessseekerswithhavingatleastaccessseekersIncomparisontherewere
onlyPOIswithatleastaccessseekersJuneTheACCCexpectssmallerRSPswillcontinueto
improvetheircompetitivenessbyhavingmoredirectinterconnectionswiththeNBNandundertaking
investmentinbackhaulcapacityatPOIs
 ThelevelofcompetitionforGcustomersisincreasing
OvertheyearGservicesbecamethemainfocalpointofcompetitionbetweentheMNOsMNOs
heavilyadvertisedthecapabilitiesoftheirGnetworksduring–Gperformancehasbecome
animportantmarketingfactorastheMNOsfocusonnon-pricefeaturessuchasspeedcoverage
technologyandcustomerservice
TheGhomebroadbandmarketalsomaturedduring–withMNOsoeringGhome
broadbandservicestomorelocationsThepricespeedanddataallowanceofthesehomeGplans
isgenerallycomparablewithNBNfixedbroadbandplansAssuchGservicesinsomeareasare
becomingincreasinglyattractivetoconsumersasanalternativetotraditionalfixedlineservices
GenerallytheMNOsmaintainedtheirfirstmoveradvantagebyinitiallywithholdingGaccessfrom
theirwholesalecustomersHoweverMVNOshavesincebeenprovidedGaccesswithOptusMVNOs’
SpinTelAussieBroadbandandSouthernPhoneoeringGmobileplansTelstraprovidedGaccess
 InMayduringthebusyhoursof–pmNBNfixed-lineconnectionsachievedaveragedownloadspeedsof
andaverageuploadspeedsof
 Urbanareasarecitieswithapopulationofoverpeople
 ACCCNBNWholesaleMarketIndicatorsReportJuneQuarterAugust
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Communications market report – 2021–22
inJulytoWoolworthsAldiMobileandBoostMobileTPGhasstartedGtrialsforitsMVNOs
includingKoganiiNetandLebaraHowevertherehasbeenlowMVNOtakeupofGwholesale
access

 Infrastructure competition
 Largechangesinmobiletowerownership
Significantchangesinmobiletowerinfrastructureownershipoccurredduring–asMNOssold
someoralloftheirtowerinfrastructure
InTelstraandOptussoldmostoftheirmobiletowerassetstonewtowerentitiesrespectively
AmplitelandIndara

InAprilMacquarieGroupsolditsmobiletowerbusiness(knownasAxicom)toIndara

InMayTPGsoldmostofitsmobiletowerstoWaveConn

Thechangesmeanthatalargerproportionof‘passive’mobileinfrastructureassets(towersbuildings
land)arenotowneddirectlybyMNOsHoweverMNOscontinuetoownandoperatethe‘active’
componentsofmobiletowerinfrastructure(suchasantennasandtransmitters)
TheACCCisexaminingtheimpactandimplicationsofthesechangesinitsRegionalMobile
InfrastructureInquiryduetoreportinJune
 Investmentintransmissionandnationalfibrebackhaulisgrowing
High-capacitytransmissionnetworkscarrydataformosttelecommunicationsservicesIn–
anumberofnewhigh-capacityfibrelinkswereannouncedTheseinvestmentswillboostboththe
capacityandresilienceofthenationaltransmissionnetworkallowingbackhauluserstohaveawider
choiceofdedicatedfibreconnectionsacrossAustralia
InthefirsthalfofAussieBroadbandcompletedtheconstructionofoverkmoffibre
interconnectingseveralNBNPOIsanddatacentresinQueenslandThiscontinuesthecarrier’s
investmentinfibrenetworksacrossmaincentralbusinessdistrictsandbackhaultoNBNPOIs

InJuneHyperOneannouncedthecompletionoftheearlydesignworksforakmfibre
networkbetweenSydneyandMelbourneThisispartofHyperOne’songoingconstructionofa
kmnationalbackbonenetworkwithoverconnectionpointsHyperOneclaimsthiswill
provideanalternativetoexistingtransmissioncorridorsandwillbeusedtocarrybothinternetanddata
centretrac

Telstraannouncedanupgradetoitsexistingnationalfibrenetworkthatwilladdadual-pathrouteof
morethankmTelstra’snewfibrenetworkwillincludeadirectfibrelinkbetweencapitalcities
andasecondlinkprovidingconnectivitytoseveralregionallocationswithmultipleaccesspoints

TheseannouncementssuggestthatdespitethehighlevelofmaturityofAustraliancorenetworks
thecontinuedgrowthindataconsumptionandtheshifttocloud-basedservicesisencouraginglarge
investmentsinunderlyingnetworkinfrastructure
 WhistleOutWhysmalltelcosaren’tkeenonGDecemberaccessedNovember
 IndarawaspreviouslyknownasAustralianTowerNetwork
 TelstraTelstrafinalisesbillionInfraCoTowerssaleSeptemberaccessedOctober
 OptusOptusannouncessaleoftowerstoAustralianSuperforAUbillionOctoberaccessedOctober
 MacquarieAssetManagementMacquarieAssetManagementannouncessaleofAxicomtoAustraliaTowerNetwork
AprilaccessedOctober
 OMERSInfrastructureOMERSInfrastructureAnnouncesAgreementtoAcquireitsFirstAsia-PacificDigitalInfrastructure
AssetMayaccessedOctober
 CRNAussieBroadbandnearscompletionofQueenslanddarkfibrerolloutAprilaccessedNovember
 HyperOneHyperOnecompletesearlyworkspackagesandcontinuesdetaileddesignonitsnationalHyperscalenetwork-
MediareleaseJuneaccessedNovember
 TelstraBreakinggroundonthefibrenetworkofthefutureMarchaccessedNovember
5
Communications market report – 2021–22
 MNOscontinuedtoextendGnetworkbreadthanddepth
TheMNOscontinuedtomakesignificantinvestmentintheirGroll-outasindicatedbythevarious
levelsofreportedcoverage
TelstrahasthewidestGnetworkwithapopulationcoverageof

TelstraintendstodeliverG
coveragetoapproximatelypopulationcoverageby

TPGhasoverpopulationcoverageinlargestcitiesandregions

OptusGpopulationcoveragedatahasnotbeenpublishedwithitsroll-outpromotionlargely
focussedonspeed

TelstraheldasignificantfirstmoveradvantagewithmoreGsitesintotalthanOptusandTPG
combined

AsatJanuaryTelstrahadsignificantlymoreGsites()comparedtothe
otherMNOsacrossallareaswithmorethantwiceasmanyGsitesasOptus()andsignificantly
moreGsitesthanTPG()
WhilethedeploymentofGsiteshaslargelybeeninmajorcitiesdeploymentisnowmovinginto
regionalandremoteareas
 Developmentscontinueinnewsatellitedeployments
Anewgenerationofsatellitebroadbandserviceshasrecentlyreachedcommercialstageorisin
near-futuredevelopment
InMarchTelstraannouncedapartnershipwithsatellitecompanyViasatTelstrawillprovide
terrestrialsupportfortheAsia-PacificdeploymentoftheViasat-geostationarysatelliteconstellation
OnceinoperationViaSat-satellitesareexpectedtodeliverdataandvideostreamingataspeedof
morethanMbpstocountriesincludingAustralia

Starlink’slowearthorbit(LEO)satelliteservice

isavailablenationallyandcompeteswiththeNBNSky
Musterservicealthoughthereareperformanceandcostdierences

ThedevelopmentofLEOsatellitesthatarecapableofintegratingwithterrestrialGmobilenetworks
isunderwayThiswillallowsatellite-to-mobileconnectivitywithunmodifiedGhandsetsinremote
locationsaircraftandmarinevessels

 NBNCohascontinuedtoinvestinitsnetworks
NBNCoiscontinuingtoinvestinitsnetworkcoverageandcapacityNBNCoisupgradingthespeed
capabilitiesofsomeofitsconnectedpremisesandinvestinginruralandregionalAustraliaaspartofa
billionprogram

InitscorporateplanNBNCoidentifiedthatanadditionalpremises
willbenefitfromanextensionofthefibrenetworkandhigheravailablespeeds

 TelstraAustralia’slargestnetwork–coveringofAussiesTelstrawebsiteaccessedNovember
 TelstraIntroducingTourplanforgrowthandenhancedcustomerexperiencesSeptemberaccessed
November
 TPGOurnetworksaccessedNovember
 OptusGetsuper-fastGwithOptusOptuswebsiteaccessedNovember
 ACCCMobileInfrastructureReportAppendixASeptemberaccessedNovember
 TelstraViasatpartnerswithTelstraforViasat-groundnetworkMarchaccessedNovember
 ALEOsatelliteconstellationprovidesmuchfasterspeedsandlowerlatencyduetotheirproximitytoearthincomparison
withtraditionalgeostationarysatellites
 WhistleOutStarlinkAustraliaSatelliteInternetEverythingYouNeedtoKnowNovemberaccessed
November
 NokiaGfromspace-TheroleofsatellitesinGaccessedNovember
 NBNCoNBNCooersfurtherfibreupgradesaspartofbillionplan-mediareleaseMarchaccessed
November
 NBNCoCorporatePlanAugustp
6
Communications market report – 2021–22
OnMarchNBNCoandtheAustralianGovernmentannouncedamillioninvestmentin
NBNCo’sfixedwirelessnetworktoimproveruralregionalandremotespeedsinresponsetothe
RegionalTelecommunicationsReviewwhichrecommendedenhancementstoNBNCo’sfixedwireless
andsatelliteservices


Attheendofthe-financialyeartheNBNhadpremisesreadytoconnectThiswas
anincreaseofpremisessincetheendoflastfinancialyear

Thisreflectsfurtherinvestmentin
thenetworksincetheNBNwasdeclaredcompleteon
 Manynon-NBNresidentialbroadbandnetworkshavebeen
upgraded
Non-NBNbroadbandprovidersinvestedinnetworkupgradesovertheyear
InMayUnitiGroupLimited(Uniti)announcedthatitssubsidiaryOpticommhadbeen
upgradingandintegratingthe‘VelocityNetwork’servicesitacquiredfromTelstraTheupgrade
involvesthedeploymentofgigabitspersecond(Gbps)technologytoallowOpticommtoprovide
multiGbpsservicestoitsresidentialbroadbandcustomers

InAugustDGtekaprovideroffibrebroadbandservicesannouncedthecompletionofa
capitalraisingroundtoexpanditsnetworkDGtekaimstoreachmillionhomesandbusinessby
bywayoffurtheracquisitionsandorganicgrowth


InJuneTPGannouncedthelaunchofitsGFasttechnologyoeringwholesaleGbps
broadbandservicesacrossitsfibre-to-the-basement(FTTB)footprint

TPGalsoannounced
thelaunchofitsGbpsFastFibrebroadbandserviceforbusinessandenterprisecustomersin
metropolitanareasofSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthandCanberra

 TheRegionalTelecommunicationsReviewinquiryconcluded
ThemostrecentRegionalTelecommunicationsReviewreportwaspublishedinFebruary
makingkeyfindingsandrecommendationstotheAustralianGovernment

These
recommendationswereaimedatcreatingamoreaccessiblecompetitiveandreliableregional
telecommunicationslandscape
Thereporthighlightedhowtelecommunicationsespeciallymobilenetworksplayanimportant
roleduringnaturaldisastersandotheremergenciesTheGovernmentannouncedinresponseto
Recommendation(‘Mobileservices’)thattheACCCwouldbetaskedtoexamineappropriatemobile
networkqualityandcoveragereportingrequirements
Thereportalsorecommendedthatpreferencebegiventogovernmentfundedmobileinfrastructure
thatsupportssharednetworkaccess(Recommendation)TheGovernmentdirectedtheACCCto
examinemobiletoweraccessfeesandhowtheseimpactonexpandingmobilecoverageTheACCC’s
RegionalMobileInfrastructureInquiryisduetoreportinJune

 NBNComillioninvestmenttoG-enablenbn®FixedWirelesstodeliverfasterspeedstoregionalAustralia-media
releaseMarchaccessedNovember
 NBNCoWeeklyprogressreportaccessedNovember
 OpticommTelstraSignsasRSPofOpticommmediareleaseaccessedNovember
 DGtekIndependentFullFibreNetworkDGtekRaisesOvermmediareleaseAugustaccessed
November
 TPGTPGTelecomlaunchessuperfastGFastbroadbandservicesmediareleaseMayaccessed
November
 TPGTPGTelecomlaunchesultrafastGigabitFastFibreforBusinessEnterpriseandGovernmentmediarelease
JuneaccessedNovember
 DepartmentofInfrastructureTransportRegionalDevelopmentCommunicationandtheArtsRegional
TelecommunicationsReview-AstepchangeindemandFebruaryaccessedNovember
 ACCCRegionalmobileinfrastructureinquiry-
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Communications market report – 2021–22
. Pricing and consumer trends
 Approach to pricing methodologies
Inthe–CommunicationsMarketReporttheACCCrefineditspricingmethodologyinresponse
toconcernsaboutaordabilityandwhetherconsumersvalueallinclusionstheyreceiveinproduct
bundlesTherefinedpricingmethodologyconsistedofpricechangemeasurements
The‘advertisedprice’approachmeasureschangesinnominalpricesoeredtoconsumersbut
doesnotconsiderchangesinproductfeatures(forexamplehigherdataallowanceorfaster
downloadspeed)
The‘feature-adjustedprice’(orhedonic)approachmeasurespurepricechangesthatisprice
changesforagivenlevelofproductfeaturesItisaneconometricestimateincorporatingboth
changestoadvertisedpriceandchangesinproductfeatures
TheACCCconsiderstheseapproachesprovidedierentperspectivesonthepriceconsumersare
payingaswellaswhethertheyareingeneralgettingmoreproductfeaturesfortheirmoney
 Advertisedpriceanalysis
Theadvertisedpriceanalysisexamineshowadvertisedpricechangesaectdierentgroupsof
consumersThepricepointsincludedinthisreportarethethpercentile(thatislowerpricepoint)
medianpricepointandthpercentile(thatishigherpricepoint)Thedierencebetweenthethand
thpercentilesistheinterquartilerangeThesepricepointsactasproxiesforentry-leveltypicaland
higher-endconsumersrespectively

 Hedonicpriceanalysis
Thefeature-adjustedpriceorhedonicapproachcontrolsforthefeaturesqualityoftheplansand
thenestimatestheeectoftimeonpriceThetheoryunderpinninghedonicpricinganalysisisthat
dierentiatedproductscanbeviewedasabundleofcharacteristicsTheapproachtreatseachproduct
asacombinationofcharacteristicsandfeaturesandassignsvaluestoeachofthe‘pricedetermining’
featuresoftheproduct(forexampledownloadspeedanddataallowance)

Thesevaluesarethenusedtoestimatechangesinpricenotexplainedbythechangesinproduct
featuresIneectthehedonicapproachsplitstheoverallpricechangeintoafeaturequalitychange
componentandapurepricechangecomponent
Anegativepurepricechangeestimatedusingthehedonicapproachindicatesthatpriceshave
decreasedholdingproductfeaturesconstantHowevertherealityisthatanegativepricechange
maynotmeanthatconsumerscangetaplanwiththesamefeaturesoeredinthepastatacheaper
priceForexampleanegativepurepricechangecouldtaketheformofmanyplansbeingoered
withincreasedfeaturesandmoremoderateincreasesinpricesovertimeSomeconsumersmayprefer
accesstolowpriceplanswithfewerfeaturesoverplanswithhigherpricesandevenmorefeatures
 Theadvertisedpricechangesforfixedbroadbandplans(NBNandnon-NBN)thatarebundledwithavoicecomponent
andanentertainmentservice(suchasFetchTVorFoxtel)havebeenexcludedfromtheadvertisedpriceanalysisinthis
reportThese‘tripleplay’productbundlesareinsomeinstancesveryhighlypricedandonlyserveanichemarketof
consumersIncludingtheseplanswouldtendtoinflatethemeasuresofadvertisedpricesandnotberepresentativeofthe
pricesthatmostconsumerspay
 Unlikefortheadvertisedpriceapproach‘tripleplay’plansareincludedinthehedonicapproachThehedonicapproach
includescontrolsforthepresenceoftelevision(TV)servicesandofvoiceserviceswhenestimatingthepurepricechange
ofbroadbandplansTheinclusionofthesecontrolsmeansthesetripleplayplanscanbeincludedwithoutdistortingthe
hedonicpriceresults
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Communications market report – 2021–22
 NBN fixed broadband
Fixedbroadbandservicesarebroadbandinternetservicesprovidedoverfixednetworkssuchasthe
NBNandotherfibre-basednetworksThissectionfocusesonNBNbroadbandservicesthatare
providedoverfixed-lineandfixedwirelesstechnologies(thatisallservicesotherthansatellite)

The
sourceforthedataistheACCC’sInternetActivityRecordKeepingRules(RKR)reports
 Servicesinoperation
Over–NBNCoreportedthenumberofwholesaleresidentialfixed-lineandfixedwireless
servicesinoperation(SIOs)increasedtomillionservices


HoweverreportingbymajorRSPsshowedthereweremillionretailNBNservices

Thisindicates
thataroundmillionservicesweresuppliedbyNBNaccessseekerstotheNBNresellermarket
Duringthefirstmonthsof–thenumberofretailservicesreportedundertheInternetActivity
RKRdecreasedbyduetomethodologyupdatesbyseveraldatareportersThisdecreaseinretail
servicesshouldbeaone-ocorrectionUnderthenewmethodologiesretailservicesincreasedby
aroundbetweenDecemberandJune
FigureshowsthebreakdownofretailNBNsubscribersbyspeedtiersTheMbpstierremains
themostpopularNBNservicewithofthemarketConsumerscontinuetomoveawayfromthe
Mbpsservicewhichhasreducedtoofthemarket
Figure 1: NBN retail broadband internet by speed tier
Dec–20 Jun–21 Dec–21 Jun–22
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
12 Mbps 25 Mbps 50 Mbps 100 Mbps & above
Market share (%)
 Prices
OveralladvertisedpricesforNBNfixedbroadbandservicescontinuedtoincrease(Figure)From
–to–permonthretailprices
onlower-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)increasedbyto
atthemedianpricepointincreasedbyto
onhigher-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)increasedbyto
 NBNfixedwirelesshasbeenincludedintheanalysisoffixedbroadbandservicesduetothefunctionalsimilaritybetween
fixedwirelessandotherfixedaccesstechnologies
 ACCCNBNWholesaleMarketIndicatorRKRReportsvariousreports
 ACCCInternetActivityRKRReportsvariousreports
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Figure 2: Changes in NBN broadband advertised prices from 2017–18 to 2021–22
60
66
70
70
72
90
90 90
100
109
70
79
80
85
89
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
Interquartile range
Price ($)
Median
ThesebroadincreasesinadvertisedpriceswerelikelydueseveralkeyfactorsFirstNBNCoceased
itshigh-speedwholesalerebatessoRSPspassedonthecostswithhigheradvertisedpricesSecond
therewasashiftincompositionofplansonoertoconsumersBetween–and–the
shareofplansonoerwithdownloadspeedsofMbpsandaboveincreasedfromtoIn
–themedianadvertisedpriceforplanswithdownloadspeedsbelowMbpswasThis
comparestoamedianadvertisedpriceofforplanswithdownloadspeedsofMbpsandabove
(Figure)
Figure 3: Median and range of advertised prices by selected download speed tiers, 2020–21 and 2021–22
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2020–21
2021–22
2020–21
2021–22
2020–21
2021–22
2020–21
2021–22
2020–21
2021–22
2020–21
2021–22
2020–21
2021–22
12 Mbps 25 Mbps 50 Mbps 100 Mbps 250 Mbps 500 Mbps 1000 Mbps
Price ($)
Median
Overthe-yearperiodadvertisedpricesforconsumersinthethpricepercentilemedianandth
pricepercentileincreasedbyandrespectivelySimilartoabovetheincreasesin
advertisedpriceshavebeendrivenbychangesinthecompositionofplansonoerandNBNCoending
itspromotionalrebates
Thefeature-adjustedpricinganalysisindicatedthatNBNpricesfellbyin–andbyover
the-yearperiodprimarilyduetosignificantincreasesindatainclusionsanddownloadspeeds
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Communications market report – 2021–22
 Non-NBN fixed-line broadband
Non-NBNfixed-linebroadbandservicesareprovidedovernetworksownedbyserviceprovidersother
thanNBNCoHistoricallytheseserviceshavebeenlargelydeliveredoverTelstra’scoppernetwork
theOptusandTelstrahybridfibrecoaxial(HFC)networksandsmallerfibrenetworksinregional
citiesandnewhousingestatesSomeofthesenetworkshavebeentransferredtoNBNCoorother
carriersinrecentyearswhileOptus’HFCnetworkandTelstra’scoppernetworkarebeingprogressively
decommissionedwithintheNBNfixed-linefootprint
Inareaswherenon-NBNfibrenetworksexistconsumershavethechoiceofstayingconnectedtothese
networksormigratingtotheNBNifitisavailableOutsidetheNBNfixed-linefootprintTelstrastill
oersdigitalsubscriberline(DSL)broadbandservicesoveritscoppernetworkandconsumersalso
havethechoiceofreceivingnon-fixedNBNbroadbandservicesintheseareas
 Servicesinoperation
Non-NBNfibreservicescontinuedtoexpandandarenowthemostcommonnon-NBNfixedservice
Over–theseservicesincreasedtoaroundservices(Figure)

Overthepast
yearsthenumberofnon-NBNfibreservicesincreasedonaverageperyearFibreserviceshad
thehighestaveragedownloadsofallnon-NBNservicesAveragingGBperservicepermonththis
ishigherthanNBNservicesatGB
ThenumberofconsumersusingDSLandHFCservicesontheOptusorTelstranetworkscontinuedto
decreaseOver–DSLservicesdecreasedbytoaroundservicesandHFCservices
decreasedtoaroundservicesOverthepastyearsDSLandHFCservicesdecreasedon
averageandperyearWiththeNBNrolloutdeclaredcompleteinlatemanyconsumers
remainingoncopperandHFCnetworkswilleventuallymigratetoNBNservices
Figure 4: Retail non-NBN SIOs by access technology from 2019–20 to 2021–22
0
500
1,000
1,500
June 2020 June 2021 June 2022
Retail SIO ('000)
DSL
HFC
Fibre
 Prices
Changesinadvertisedpricesfornon-NBNfixedbroadbandservicesincreased(Figure)

From
–to–permonthretailprices
onlower-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)increasedbyto
 Thenon-NBNSIOsdataiscollectedundertheACCC’sInternetActivityRKRandrelatestoretailservicesprovidedby
AussieBroadbandAustralianPrivateNetworksDodoHarbourISPiiNetIPStarMyRepublicPrimusOptusSkyMesh
TelstraandTPG
 TheadvertisedpricingdatacoversservicesprovidedontheDSL&HFCnetworksandtheFTTxnetworksincludingthe
TPGOpticommandVelocitynetworks
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Communications market report – 2021–22
atthemedianpricepointincreasedbyto
onhigher-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)increasedbyto
Figure 5: Changes in non-NBN fixed broadband advertised prices from 2017–18 to 2021–22
2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
Interquartile range
Median
60 60 60
65
70
90
80
90 90
100
70
70
75
80
85
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
Price ($)
Thesepriceincreaseswerelikelyduetoashiftinthecompositionofplansonoerratherthanaprice
increaseitselfAsDSLandHFCservicesaredecommissionedandtheseplansarenolongeroered
tonewcustomersthenumberofnon-NBNfibreplanshasincreasedGenerallynon-NBNfibreplans
aremorecostlyandhavehigherspeedoptionsthanDSLandHFCplansMostretailersoertheirfibre
servicesatsimilaroridenticalpricingtotheirNBNpricesIn-theadvertisedpricesforDSL
plansrangedbetweenandpermonthandhadamedianpriceofThiscomparestonon-
NBNfibreplanswhichrangedbetweenandwithamedianpriceof
Overthe-yearperiodadvertisedpricesforconsumersinthethpercentileandmedianprice
percentileincreasedbyandrespectivelywithadvertisedpricesineachyearincreasingor
remainingunchangedConsumersinthethpercentileexperiencedapriceincreaseof
Thefeature-adjustedpricinganalysisindicatedthatnon-NBNpricesfellbyin–andby
overthe-yearperiod
 Mobile
TelstraOptusandTPGcontinuetodominatetheretailmarketformobileservicesTheMNOsoperate
largeverticallyintegratedtelecommunicationsbusinessesoeringawiderangeofretailproducts
coveringarangeofmobileservicesTheseservicesinclude
mobilephoneplans(abundleofvoiceshortmessageservice(SMS)anddataservices)
standalonemobilebroadbandservices
fixedwirelessservicescapableofdeliveringbroadbandtofixedaddressesathomeandsmall
businesspremises
InadditiontotheMNOs’flagshipretailbrands(TelstraOptusandTPG’sVodafone)therearealsoa
widerangeofMVNOsthatacquirewholesaleconnectivityfromtheMNOstoprovideretailservicesThe
MNOsalsooperatesub-brandsthatcompeteforthemorepricesensitivesegmentoftheretailmarket
Thesesub-brandsincludeBelong(Telstra)Gomo(Optus)andFelix(TPG)amongstothers
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Communications market report – 2021–22
 Servicesinoperation
Over–totalmobilephoneservicesincreasedbyoraroundtoovermillion
servicesTherewasslightincreaseinthenumberofpre-paidservicesrelativetopost-paidservicesas
theshareofpre-paidservicesincreasedbypercentagepointtoMNOflagshipbrandscontinued
toaccountformost()mobilephoneservicesMNOsub-brandsmadeupofservicesandMVNO
brandsalsoaccountedforofservicesFinallyaveragemobilephonedownloadsincreasedbyto
GB(Figure)
BetweenDecemberandJunethenumberofmobilebroadband(data-only)services
increasedonlytoovermillionservicesHowevertheaveragedatavolumedownloadedover
mobilebroadbandservicesincreasedbytoGB
Figure 6: Mobile network downloads from December 2021 to June 2022
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
200
250
300
Pre-paid
mobile
Post-paid
mobile
Mobile
broadband
M2M
Home
Wireless
Broadband
GB per SIO per month
Dec–21 Jun–22
In–machine-to-machine

(MM)andhomewirelessbroadband

serviceswerereportedfor
thefirsttimeandbothsawsubstantialgrowthinservicesBetweenDecemberandJune
thenumberofMMservicesincreasedbytoovermillionandhomewirelessbroadband
increasedbytooverservicesOverthesameperiodaveragedownloadsperuseronhome
wirelessbroadbandservicesincreasedbytoGBpermonthDownloadsofthisamountindicate
homewirelessbroadbandcouldbeafixed-linealternativeparticularlyforconsumerswithalowerdata
demandForcomparisontheaverageNBNdownloadamountwasGBpermonth
 Prices
Mobilephones
Advertisedpricesformobilephoneservicesweremostlyunchanged(Figure)From–to
–permonthretailpricesforpre-paidandpost-paidservices
onlower-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)decreasedbyto
atthemedianpricepointremainedunchangedat
onhigher-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)increasedbyto
 Machine-to-machineorMMisadirectcommunicationbetweendevicesusinganycommunicationchannelincluding
fixedwiredandwireless
 Homewirelessbroadbandisaninternetconnectionwhichprovidesshortbroadbandrangehighdatarateconnections
betweenafixedmodemandaccesspointsconnectedtoamobilenetwork
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Figure 7: Changes in mobile phone advertised prices 2017–18 to 2021–22
2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
Interquartile range
Median
25 25
21
25
24
50
50
49
50 50
39
35
34
35 35
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Price ($)
Overthisperiodtherewerekeydierencesbetweenpost-paidandpre-paidmobileservicesForpost-
paidmobileservicesmedianmonthlyretailpricesincreasedtoandthemediandataallowance
increasedbytoGBThiscomparedtopre-paidmobileserviceswheremedianmonthlyretail
pricesanddataallowancewereunchangedatandGBHowevermonthlyretailpricesoflower
priced(atthethpercentile)forpost-paidserviceswasunchangedatbutforpre-paidservicesit
decreasedbyto
Overthe-yearperiodadvertisedpricesforconsumersinthethpercentilewasmostlyunchanged
asidefromthedecreasetoin–Forconsumersinthemedianpricepercentileadvertised
pricesdecreasedbyConsumersinthethpercentileexperiencednolargechangesin
advertisedpricesremainingbetweenand
Thefeature-adjustedpricinganalysisindicatedthatmobileservicesoverallfellbypost-paid
mobileservicesfellbyandpre-paidmobilefellbyOverthe-yearperiodthepricesfellby
andrespectively
MVNObrandsandMNOsub-brandscontinuedtoplayanimportantandcompetitivealternativeto
MNOflagshipbrandsforconsumers

In–MVNObrandsandMNOsub-brandsadvertised
pricesweregenerallylowercomparedtothoseoeredbytheMNOflagshipbrands(Figure)
HoweverdataallowancesforMVNObrandsandMNOsub-brandswerealsolowerThemedian
advertisedpriceforMVNObrandsandMVNOsub-brandplanswaswithadataallowanceofGB
ThiscomparestothemedianpriceforMNOflagshipsbrandswhichwaswithadataallowanceof
GB
 MNOflagshipbrandsincludeOptusTelstraandVodafoneMVNObrandsandMNOsub-brandsincludeALDImobile
amaysimBelongBoostCirclelifeDodoFelixGomoHelloMobileiPrimusKoganMobileLycamobileMateiiNetTPG
LebaraandTelechoice
14
Communications market report – 2021–22
Figure 8: Advertised price and monthly data allowance for MVNO brands and MNO sub-brands compared
to MNO flagship brands, 2021–22
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0 100 200 300 400
500
Price ($)
Data allowance (GB/Month)
MNO flagship brands
MVNO and MNO
sub-brands
Mobilebroadband
Advertisedpricesformobilebroadbandservicesdecreased(Figure)From–to–per
monthretailprices
onlower-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)remainedunchangedat
atthemedianpricepointdecreasedbyto
onhigher-pricedplans(atthethpercentile)decreasedbyto
Figure 9: Changes in mobile broadband advertised prices from 2017–18 to 2021–22
2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
Interquartile range
Median
20
23
20 20 20
60
60
50
55
50
37
40
35
40
35
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Price ($)
Overthe-yearperiodadvertisedpricesforconsumersinthethpercentilewasunchanged
asidefromthetemporaryincreasetoin–Forconsumersinthemedianpricepercentile
advertisedpricesdecreasedbyConsumersinthethpercentileexperiencedapricedecreaseof

Thefeature-adjustedpricinganalysisindicatedthatmobilebroadbandpricesfellbyin–
andbyoverthe-yearperiod
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Communications market report – 2021–22
 Fixed-line voice
Over–thenumberoffixed-linevoiceservicesacrossTelstraOptusandTPGdecreasedby
toovermillionservicesThiscontinuesthelong-termtrendofdecreasingusageoffixed-line
voiceservices
Despitedecreasingusagefixed-linevoiceservicesremaincriticalforvulnerableconsumerswhorequire
accesstoareliableandaordablevoiceserviceincluding
thosewholiveinregionalandremoteareas
thosewholiveinareasatriskofbeingimpactedbynaturaldisasterssuchasabushfire
thosewithnoorpoormobilecoverage
theelderlyandindividualswithcomplexmedicalneeds
AnAustralianCommunicationsandMediaAuthority(ACMA)surveycommissionedinestimated
thatofAustralianshadbothamobileandlandlinephonewhilehadonlyalandlinephone

WhilethenumberofAustralianseitherwithbothamobileandlandlinephoneoronlyalandlinehas
decreasedovertimeageandlocationaresignificantinfluencingfactorsBroadlyyoungerAustralians
andthoseincapitalcitiesuselandlinephonesless
Generallyconsumersnowaccessfixed-linevoiceservicesasabundledservice(usuallyasavoiceover
internetprotocol(VoIP)service)withtheirfixedbroadbandserviceHoweversomeconsumersmaynot
wantorneedafixedbroadbandserviceandpreferastand-alonefixedvoiceservice
TheACCC’sretailmarketresearchindicatesstandalonefixed-linevoiceserviceprovidersaremovingto
primarilyoerall-inclusiveplansthatincludeunlimitedlocalnationalandmobilecallsforbetween
andItappearsplanswithunlimitedcallinclusionsareincreasinglycommonandtheavailabilityof
individualcalltariplanscontinuetoreduce
SomelargerproviderssuchasTelstraandOptusonlyoerasingleunlimitedfixed-linevoiceproduct
ataroundThispresentsanissuewhereconsumershavelimitedoptionsotherthantopaya
relativelyhighpriceforaccesstoafixed-linevoiceserviceInsomeinstancestheseservicesarepriced
atalevelsimilartosomebundledfixed-linebroadbandandvoiceservices
Casualfixedvoiceusersmayfaceavalue-versus-pricechoicewheretheypreferalowercostservice
butwithlesscallinclusionsAmobilephoneservicewithsimilarcallinclusionsbutalowerpriceisa
viablealternativeformostconsumersexceptwherereliablemobilecoverageisnotavailable
 Satellite
SatelliteservicesareimportanttoregionalandremoteAustraliafortelecommunicationsservicesIn
someareassatelliteservicesarebecomingaviablealternativetomobileandfixed-linenetworksAs
notedpreviouslyover–anewgenerationofsatellitebroadbandserviceshasrecentlyreached
commercialstageorisinnear-futuredevelopment(seesubsection)
NBNwholesalesatelliteservicesincreasedoraroundtooverservices(which
includesoverSkyMusterPlusservices)Itisimportanttonotemostofthisincreaseisattributed
toNBNCoreportingofSkyMusterPlusforthefirsttimefromSeptember
Non-NBNsatelliteservicesremainedrelativelystableovertheperiodincreasingbytoaround
servicesTherehasbeenlittlechangeinthenumberofnon-NBNsatelliteservicesforthelastyears
averagingaroundservicesHowevertheACCCexpectsthistobeaconservativeestimateof
thenumberofnon-NBNsatelliteservicesbecauseseveralnon-NBNsatelliteprovidersarenotcurrently
capturedbytheInternetActivityRKRBetweenDecemberandJuneaveragemonthly
downloadsperuserofnon-NBNsatelliteservicesincreasedtoGB
 ACMAHowAustraliansmakevoicecallsathomeaccessedNovember
16
Communications market report – 2021–22
NBNSkyMustersatelliteretailplansareoeredinandMbpsspeedswithapeakopeakdata
allowanceDependingonspeedandmonthlydataallowancemonthlypricesrangefromto
withnoinstallationfeeNBNSkyMusterPlusplansincludelimitedpeakallowanceforvideostreaming
andunlimitedforallotherusageandmonthlypricesrangefromtowithnoinstallationfee

In
contrastStarlink’smonthlychargeiswithnolimitstodownloadsbutithasastandardinstallation
feeof

 Wholesale markets
 NationalBroadbandNetwork
GrowthintheNBNwholesalemarketslowedduring–Comparedtoalmostmillionnew
residentialservicesaddedin–onlyaroundwereaddedintheyeartoJune
mostofwhichwereaddedbysmallerNBNaccessseekers(Figure)
Figure 10: NBN wholesale – residential broadband net additions, from 2017–18 to 2021–22
Telstra TPG Optus Vocus Group Aussie Broadband Others
(500)
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Jun–18
Wholesale SIO (,000)
Jun–19 Jun–20
Jun–21 Jun–22
WiththeNBNrolloutcompletethedecreaseinnetadditionsisexpectedtocontinue
Figureshowsnetadditionsforthe–periodwithmostnetadditionsattributabletoAussie
BroadbandandothersmallerNBNaccessseekerssuchasSuperloopExetelSkyMeshSouthern
PhoneHarbourISPandAustralianPrivateNetworks(tradingas‘Activme’)ThemarketshareofOptus
wasimpactedduringthe–periodbytheacquisitionofoneofitslargewholesalecustomersby
acompetitor
 WhistleOutBestSatelliteNBNPlansNovemberCompare&SaveNovemberaccessedNovember
 StarlinkOrderStarlink–AustraliaoeruntilnewyearaccessedNovember
17
Communications market report – 2021–22
Figure 11: NBN wholesale – residential broadband net additions in 2021–22
Telstra TPG Optus Vocus Group Aussie Broadband Others
(200)
(100)
0




()
()
200
100
300
400
500
2021–22
WholesaleSIO()
FigurebelowshowsthatwholesaleNBNmarketsharesdeclinedover–forTelstraOptusand
TPGwithsmallerplayersgainingmarketsharetooverofthemarket
Figure 12: NBN wholesale – residential broadband market shares from 2016–17 to 2021–22
Telstra TPG Optus Vocus Group Aussie Broadband Others
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Jun–17 Jun–18
Jun–19 Jun–20
Jun–21 Jun–22
Market share (%)
Overthecourseof–thespeedtiercompositionoftheNBNwholesalemarketchangedslightly
duetothevariouswholesalediscountpromotionsByJuneoverofallNBNwholesale
serviceswereonspeedtiersofMbpsoraboveincludingalmostatMbpsorabove
18
Communications market report – 2021–22
Figurebelowshowstheadoptionofthevariousspeedtiersovertime
Figure 13: NBN wholesale – speed tier composition from 2016–17 to 2021–22
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Jun–17 Jun–18 Jun–19 Jun–20 Jun–21 Jun–22
12 Mbps 25 Mbps 50 Mbps 100 Mbps >100 Mbps
Proportion (%)
FigureshowsthattheamountofConnectivityVirtualCircuit(CVC)acquiredbyNBNwholesale
accessseekerscontinuedtogrowover–particularlyduetoCVCbonusesprovidedbyNBNCo
inresponsetoCOVID-andunderthevariouspromotions
Figure 14: NBN wholesale – residential broadband total AVC and total CVC from 2017–18 to 2021–22
Jun–18 Jun–19 Jun–20 Jun–21 Jun–22
Total CVC (Tbps)
Total SIOs (millions)
Total CVC (Tbps)
Total SIOs (millions)
6.9
4.1
5.7
7.4
8.4
8.7
9.9
18.4
24.7
23
InJuneNBNwholesaleaccessseekerswereacquiringalmostterabitspersecond(Tbps)of
residentialbroadbandCVCcapacitycomparedtoaboutTbpsinJuneanincreaseof
 Telecommunications consumer complaints
 ComplaintsreportedtotheACMA
TheACMAcollectsdataoncustomercomplaintsmadedirectlytomediumandlarger-sized
telecommunicationsproviders(definedasproviderswithormoreservices)Theseproviders
arerequiredtoreportthisinformationtotheACMApursuanttotheACMA’sTelecommunications
(ConsumerComplaints)Record-KeepingRules
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Communications market report – 2021–22
In–providersreportedovermillioncomplaintswhichrepresentedadecreaseof
comparedtothepreviousyear

OfthesecomplaintswereescalatedtotheTelecommunications
IndustryOmbudsman(TIO)whichrepresentedadecreasecomparedtothepreviousyear
AsshowninTablecomplaintsrelatingtofixed-lineandNBNservicesalldeclinedin–
comparedtothepreviousyearandtherewasaincreaseincomplaintsrelatingtomobileservices
Table 3: Complaints per 10,000 services by service type
Servicetype – – Change
Fixed-linebroadband   -
Fixed-linevoice   -
NBNBroadband   -
NBNVoice-only   -
Other   -
Mobile   
AsshowninTablebelowcomplaintsdecreasedformostNBNtechnologytypesTherewashowever
asignificantincreaseincomplaintsrelatingtoNBNSatelliteservicesandasmallincreaseinfibre-to-
the-Premises(FTTP)complaints
Table 4: Complaints per 10,000 services by technology type
NBNTechnology – – Change
Satellite   
FTTB   -
FTTC   -
HFC   -
FTTN   -
FTTP   
FixedWireless   -
 ComplaintstotheTelecommunicationsIndustryOmbudsman
TheTIOprovidesadisputeresolutionservicefortelecommunicationsdisputesbetweenservice
operatorsandresidentialandsmallbusinesscustomers
In–theTIOreceivedcomplaintsThisrepresentsasignificantreductionfrom
lastyearandwasthelowestvolumeofreferralsreceivedbytheTIOinoveryearsandthelargest
percentagereductioninyears

AsshowninTablecomplaintsrelatingtointernetroseslightlyandtherewasapercentagepoint
increaseincomplaintsrelatingtomobileservices
Table 5: TIO complaints by service type
Servicetype – – –
Internet   
Landline   
Mobile   
Multiple   
Property   
 ACMATelcocomplaints-handlingperformanceaccessedNovember
 TIOAnnualReport-Septemberp
20
Communications market report – 2021–22
AsshowninTablewhilstcomplaintsformostcategoriesfellsignificantlytherewasarisein
complaintsrelatingtopoormobilecoverage
Table 6: Top 10 complaints to the TIO by issue type
Complaintissue – – %oftotalin
–
Changefrom
–
Noordelayedactionbyprovider    -
Serviceandequipmentfees    -
Nophoneorinternetservice    -
Intermittentserviceordropouts    -
Resolutionagreedbutnotmet    -
Delayestablishingaservice    -
Slowdataspeed    -
Poormobilecoverage    
Failuretocancelaservice    -
Inadequatefaulttesting    -
 ComplaintstotheACCC
ConsumersandsmallbusinessescontacttheACCCaboutawiderangeofissuesTheACCCisnota
complaint-handlingbodyanddoesnotresolveindividuals’complaintsTheACCCfocusesonsituations
thatmayimpactvulnerableconsumersharmthecompetitiveprocessorresultinwidespread
consumerorsmallbusinessdetrimentIndividualsmaybereferredtodispute-handlingorganisations
suchastheTIOthatarebetterplacedtoassist
TheACCCalsousesinformationreceivedincomplaintstohelpidentifyissuesforfurtherinvestigation
thatmayhaveindustry-wideapplications
During–theACCCreceivedatotalofcomplaintsrelatingtotelecommunications
matterswhichisnearlyadecreasefrom–Figurebelowillustratesthisdecrease
Communications-relatedcomplaintstotheACCCareusuallysimilartoissuesreportedtotheTIOwith
servicequalityandconnectionissuescontinuingtobesignificantconsumerconcerns
Figure 15: Communications-related complaints to the ACCC in 2020–21 and 2021–22
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4
2020–21 2021–22
Number of complaints
ComplaintstotheACCCwilloftencovermultipleissuesundertheCCAandorACLTheyarerecorded
andcategorisedaccordingtotheidentifiedissues
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Communications market report – 2021–22
AsshowninTablebelowcomplaintsinseveralindividualcategoriesrosein–comparedtothe
previousyear
Table 7: ACCC complaints by contact type in 2020–21 and 2021–22
Typeofconduct – –
Section–misleadingordeceptiveconduct  
Section–Guaranteeastoacceptablequality  
Generaltelcoissues(noCCAbreach)  
Generaltelcoissues(noACLbreach)  
Section–Wronglyacceptingpayment  
Section()(b)–Falserepresentations(services–standardqualityvalueorgrade)  
Section–Guaranteeastoduecareandskill  
Section()(m)–Falserepresentations(exclusionoreectofanycondition
warrantyguaranteerightorremedy)
 
Section()(a) –Falserepresentations(goods–standardqualityvaluegrade
compositionstyle)
 
Section-–Guaranteerelatingtothesupplyofgoodsbydescriptionsampleor
demonstration
 
Total 6,984 6,500
ApproximatelyofthesecomplaintswerereferredtootheragenciesmainlytotheTIOand
state-basedagencieswhicharetaskedwithresolvingconsumercomplaintsandinvestigatingissues
outsideoftheACCC’sremit
Tableshowsthatcomplaintsagainstmostprovidersgenerallydecreasedin–includingfor
TelstraOptusandTPGHowevertherewereminorincreasesincomplaintsrelatingtosmallerproviders
suchasSpinTelandTangerineTelecom
Table 8: Number of complaints by telecommunications provider in 2020–21 and 2021–22
Telecommunicationsprovider – –
Telstra(includingBelong)  
Optus  
TPGTelecom  
VodafoneAustralia  
NBNCo  
DodoAustralia  
AussieBroadband  
BoostMobile  
SpinTel  
TangerineTelecom  
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Communications market report – 2021–22
. ACCC activities in communications
TheACCCperformsspecificrolesunderPartsXIBandXICoftheCCAincommunicationsmarketsas
wellasotheractivitiesrelatedtothecommunicationssectorTheseactivitiesarereportedindetailin
periodicalpublicationssuchastheACCCAnnualReport
ThischapterbrieflydescribesactivitiesundertakenbytheACCCwithinthecommunicationssector
during–inthefollowingareas
accesstotelecommunications
NBN
structuralseparationofTelstraandmigrationplan
monitoringandreporting
enforcementandcompliance
mergersauthorisationandthirdlineforcing
adviceadvocacyandcontributionstopolicyprocesses
 Regulated access to telecommunications
 Declaredserviceinquiries
Superfastbroadbandaccessservice
InJulytheACCCcommencedafinalaccessdeterminationinquiryforthedeclaredsuperfast
broadbandaccessservice(SBAS)ThiswilldeterminethepricesRSPspayintheabsenceofa
commercialagreementforNBN-likefixedlinebroadbandservicesonnon-NBNnetworks
AkeyobjectiveofthisinquirywastoensurethatRSPsandcustomerssuppliedviaSBASnetworks
wouldnotbeanyworseothaniftheyweresuppliedbytheNBN
TheACCCreleaseditsdraftdecisioninOctober

ThedraftdecisionlinksSBASpricesto
NBNwholesalepricesforsimilarresidentialbroadbandservicesItalsoproposedtoregulatecertain
non-recurringchargessuchasconnectionandtransferfeesandrequirenetworkownerstoprovide
transparencytoaccessseekersontheperformanceandreliabilityofservices
TheACCCexpectsthatthiswillencourageRSPstousethewholesaleservicesofnon-NBNnetworks
whichwillpromotecompetitionthroughimprovedpriceandserviceoerings
TheACCCexpectstofinaliseitsinquiryin
Wholesaleasymmetricaldigitalsubscriberlineservice
OnDecembertheACCCextendedthewholesaleasymmetricaldigitalsubscriberline(ADSL)
servicedeclarationuntilJuneThewholesaleADSLserviceallowsRSPstodeliverfixed-line
broadbandservicesoverTelstra’scoppernetworkinsideandoutsideNBNfixed-linenetworkareas
AsthemigrationtotheNBNprogressestheuseofTelstra’swholesaleADSLserviceisdeclining
Howeverfortheperiodofthedeclaration(atleast)Telstra’snetworkislikelytocontinuetobeused
TheACCCconsideredthatcontinuedregulationwouldcontinuetopromotecompetitionandprovide
certaintytoRSPsandADSLconsumers
 ACCCSuperfastbroadbandaccessservice(SBAS)finalaccessdeterminationinquiry–draftdecision
October
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Communications market report – 2021–22
ThewholesaleADSLserviceisoneofdeclaredfixed-lineservicesTheACCChasdeclaredtheother
servicesuntilJunesothisextensiontothewholesaleADSLdeclarationhasbroughtthe
expiryofallservicesintoline
 Carrierseparationrules
ThecarrierseparationrulesinPartoftheTelecommunicationsAct(TelecommunicationsAct)
requirecontrollersoflocalaccesslinesservingresidentialcustomerstosupplyeligibleservicesona
wholesale-onlybasisThismeansthatacompanythatcontrolsasuperfastbroadbandnetworkcannot
itselfsupplyretailservicesoveritunlessanexemptionapplies
Networkoperatorsmayseektobeexemptfromthewholesale-onlyrequirementviaeitheraclass
exemption(fornetworkoperatorswithnomorethanresidentialcustomers)orafunctional
separationundertakingThisisintendedtoprovidegreatercommercialflexibilityforsuperfastnetwork
operatorsandpromoteinfrastructure-basedcompetition
FollowingconsultationwithindustrytheACCCpublishedindustryguidanceinOctobersetting
outhowthecarrierseparationrulesapplyandhownetworkoperatorscanelecttobeboundbythe
classexemptionorgivetheACCCafunctionalseparationundertaking


 TPGjointfunctionalseparationundertaking
OnAprilfollowingpublicconsultationtheACCCacceptedajointfunctionalseparation
undertakingsubmittedbyTPGonbehalfofitswholesaleandretailsubsidiaries
TheundertakingcameintoforceonOctoberandappliestoalllocalaccesslinesthatTPG
controlsthatsupplyresidentialsuperfastcarriageservicesThisincludesitsexistingFTTBnetworksin
apartmentbuildingsandHFCandfibre-to-the-node(FTTN)networksintheAustralianCapitalTerritory
andregionalVictoriaaswellanynewsuperfastlocalaccesslinesthatitdeploys
 QuarterlyreportingofAccessAgreements
CarriersorcarriageserviceprovidersthatsupplydeclaredservicesarerequiredunderBEBofthe
CCAtolodgequarterlyreportswiththeACCCregardingallnewvariedcancelledandin-forceaccess
agreementsfordeclaredservices

TherehasbeennochangetowhichservicesaredeclaredsincethepreviousCommunicationsMarket
ReportTherewerereportingcompaniesin–
 NBN regulation
 ACCCroundtableandworkshops
OnJunetheACCCconvenedanindustryroundtabletoassistNBNCowithitsdevelopment
ofaproposaltovarytheSAUThiscommencedaperiodofongoingconsultationbetweentheACCC
NBNCoindustryparticipantsandotherstakeholderstodiscussapossiblerevisedlong-termregulatory
frameworkfortheNBNDiscussionscoveredawiderangeofissues

FollowingtheroundtablebetweenAugustandDecembertheACCChostedworkinggroup
meetings

ACCCCommissionerschairedtheworkinggroupmeetingsattendedbyrepresentatives
ofNBNCoaccessseekersandindustryconsumerandgovernmentbodiesStakeholders
wereencouragedtoengageonspecificissuesregardingNBNCo’scurrentSAUanddiscuss
potentialchanges
 ACCCIndustryguidanceonthecarrierseparationrulesOctober
 ACCCAccessagreementreporting
 ACCCCommunicationsmarketreport-publishedDecemberp
 ACCCReviewofNBNregulatoryframeworkDecember
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Communications market report – 2021–22
Generallytheworkinggroupscoveredkeyareas
NBNproductsandpricing
thebuildingblockmodelandNBNCo’saccumulatedlosses
theregulatoryresetprocessandotherfunctionsandpowersthatcouldbeconferredundera
variedSAU
TheworkinggroupsproposedkeyoutcomestoguideNBNCo’sdevelopmentofits
proposedvariation
NBNCohastheopportunitytoearntheminimumrevenuesitneedstomeetitslegitimatefinancing
objectivesincludingtotransitiontoastand-aloneinvestmentgradecreditrating
NBNend-usersareprotectedfrompriceshocksandfrompricesthatarehigherthannecessaryin
lateryears
theregulatoryframeworkprovidesincentivesforNBNCotooperateecientlyandpromoteuseof
theNBN
retailershavegreatercertaintyoverthecoststhattheywillfacewhenusingtheNBN
thereisaclearandrobustqualityofserviceframeworksoretailersandend-usersknowwhatto
expectfromNBNservicesincludingareviewmechanismsothatservicestandardsremainfit
forpurpose
 SAUvariationconsultation
TheSAUhassignificantimplicationsforcompetitionandtheeciencyofcommunicationsmarkets
overthelongtermdictatingthepriceandqualityofretailvoiceandbroadbandoersthatwillbe
availabletohouseholdsandbusinessesAccordinglytheACCChasworkedwithNBNCoindustryand
otherstakeholderstoassistNBNCowithitsdevelopmentofaproposedvariationtotheSAU
OnMarchNBNColodgedavariationtoitsSAUwiththeACCC

NBNCo’sproposalincluded
expandingthescopeoftheSAUtoincludealltheaccessnetworktechnologiesthereplacementof
bundlediscountswithnewpriceoersandrevisionstothemethodologyandapproachofvarious
aspectsoftheSAU

AspartoftheSAUvariationassessmentprocessinMaytheACCCreleasedapublicconsultation
paperandreceivedwrittensubmissionsonNBNCo’sproposal
ManystakeholdersubmissionsontheproposedSAUvariationrelatedto
theincorporationofservicequalitycommitmentsintotheSAUframework
changestoNBNCo’spricing
changestothewayhistoricallossesaretreatedundertheSAU
TheMinisterforCommunicationswrotetotheACCConJulyadvisingthatshesupported
NBNCowithdrawingitsproposedSAUvariationandsubmittingarevisedvariationproposalandthat
sheandtheMinisterforFinancehadwrittentoNBNCotooutlinetheirviewsNBNCosubsequently
withdrewitsMarchSAUvariationproposalonJuly

SincethenNBNCohasbeenworkingonarevisedSAUvariationproposalwhichcommenced
withthepublicationbyNBNCoofadiscussionpaperinAugustonapotentialrevisedSAU
variationproposal
 ACCCNBNCoSAUvariationaccessedOctober
 ACCCProposedvariationtotheNBNCoSpecialAccessUndertakingConsultationpaperMaypp-
 ACCCMinisterletterandwithdrawalofSAUvariationJuly
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OnandAugusttheACCCconvenedanindustryforumtodiscusstheregulatoryframework
thatcouldapplyunderavariedSAUwhichincludeddiscussingthetopicsmentionedaboveand
reportingrequirementsexpenditurereviewcriteriaandACCCfunctionspowersTheindustryforum
alsodiscussedinterimcommercialarrangementsthatmightbenecessaryintheleaduptosucha
frameworkcomingintoeect
OnNovemberNBNColodgedanewvariationproposalwitharrangementstoapplyfrom
July

 –LTRCMdetermination
TheLongTermRevenueConstraintMethodology(LTRCM)ispartoftheexistingSAUframeworkto
regulatetheNBNTheLTRCMallowsNBNCotheopportunitytorecoverprudentlyincurredcosts
andsetsseveralvariablesforthebuildingblockregulationcoveringNBNCoTheACCCassessesNBN
Co’sproposedvaluesofcostsincurredaccordingtotheprudencyandeciencydefinitionoutlinedin
theSAU
TheACCCreleaseditsfinaldeterminationinrelationtothe–financialyearinJuneand
acceptedwithoutmodificationNBNCo’sproposedvaluesforallelementsoftheLTRCM

PotentialchangestotheLTRCMprocesswereraisedaspartoftheACCC’sconsultationonthe
MarchSAUvariationStakeholdersexpressedconcernsaboutthevariouscostrecovery
methodologiesunderthecurrentSAUWeexpecttherulesrelatingtotheprudencyandeciencyof
NBNCo’sexpenditurewillbeakeyfocusforstakeholdersintheSAUvariationprocess
 Telstra’s Structural Separation Undertaking and
Migration Plan
 Telstra’scompliancewithstructuralseparationundertaking
OnJulytheACCCpublisheditsannualreportonTelstra’scompliancewithitsstructural
separationundertaking(SSU)for–
ThereportfoundTelstra’scompliancewithitsSSUobligationstobegoodoverallcontinuingthetrend
inrecentyearsWhiletherewereinstancesofnon-compliancetheACCCconsideredregardshouldbe
giventothescaleofthemigrationprocessthelogisticandotherchallengescreatedbytheCOVID-
pandemicandseveralnaturaldisastersovertheandperiod
WhenviewedinthiscontexttheACCCdidnotconsiderthatanyoftheinstancesofnon-compliance
requiredenforcementorcomplianceaction

 ApprovedvariationstotheMigrationPlan
OnAprilTelstraadvisedtheACCCofaproposaltoamendRequiredMeasuresrelatingto
thedisconnectionandmigrationofTelstra’sremaininglegacybusinessservicesinunderthe
MigrationPlan
TheamendmentsprovidethatinTelstrawilldisconnecttheremainingbusinessservicecustomers
connectedtoitslegacynetwork(ieinMayorinAugustdependingontheservicetype)
TheACCCconsideredtheamendedRequiredMeasureswereconsistentwiththeMigrationPlan
Principlesanddidnotobjecttotheamendments
TelstraalsoproposedvariationstotheMigrationPlanwiththeeectof
amendingthemanageddisconnectionarrangementsforservicestomulti-dwellingunitcommon
areasandfireandlifttelephones
 ACCCNBNCoSAUvariationNovember
 ACCCLTRCMfinaldeterminationJune
 ACCCTelstra’sstructuralseparationundertaking-Julyp
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Communications market report – 2021–22
extendingthetimeframeformanageddisconnectionofpremisesthatarenotNBN-serviceable
allowingforpublicandprivatepayphoneservicestobedierentiated
expandingthecurrentauthoritywithinTelstraforthereconnectionofsomeservicesinaccordance
withthestandardconditionswithintheMigrationPlan
TheACCCapprovedthevariationsonFebruary

 ForceMajeureEvents
IfanydelayorfailuretoperformTelstra’sobligationsiscausedbya‘ForceMajeureEvent’oran
‘ExcludedEvent’thenTelstraisnottakentohavecontravenedtheMigrationPlanorbeliabletopay
TheACCCandTelstraagreedthattheCOVID-pandemicconstitutedaForceMajeureEventenabling
TelstratodefercertainmanageddisconnectionactivitiesOnSeptemberTelstranotified
theACCCofanextensiontotheForceMajeureEventduetotheongoingimpactsoftheCOVID-
pandemicinNSWandVictoria

OnDecemberTelstranotifiedtheACCCofitsproposaltodeferthescheduledMigrationPlan
activitiesduringthe–ChristmasandNewYearholidayperiodTheACCCagreedtoTelstra’s
requestonDecember

OnMarchTelstranotifiedtheACCCofaForceMajeureEventduetofloodsinQueenslandand
NewSouthWalesOnMarchtheACCCadvisedTelstrathatitagreedthefloodsconstituteda
ForceMajeureevent

OnAugustTelstraadvisedtheACCCthattheconditionsgivingrisetotheForceMajeure
Events(COVID-andfloods)hadcometoanend
 Monitoring and reporting
 MobileInfrastructureReport
TheACCCmadeacommitmentfollowingtheDomesticMobileRoamingInquirytoimprove
publiclyavailableinformationonmobileinfrastructureassetsandmobilecoverageTheACCC
committedtousingdataitcollectsundertheAuditofTelecommunicationsInfrastructureAssets–
RecordKeepingRules(InfrastructureRKR)forthispurpose

ThefirstannualMobileInfrastructure
ReportwaspublishedinDecemberandthesecondreportwaspublishedinSeptember

TheMobileInfrastructureReportprovidesanalysisonthechangeinMNOs’mobileinfrastructureand
coveragefromonwardsTheanalysisisbasedoninformationcollectedfromthenationalMNOs-
OptusTelstraandTPGundertheInfrastructureRKR
ThereportshowedthatgrowthinGandGnetworkdeploymentinregionalandremoteareas
hadgenerallyslowedsinceThisappearstobeduetoachangeinfocusbytheMNOstoGroll
outspredominatelyinMajorCitiesThistrendisinlinewiththefindingsofthereportInaddition
thenumberofGsitesinregionalandremoteareasincreasedTelstraheldasignificantfirstmover
advantageinalltheseareaswithmoreGsitesintotalthanOptusandTPGcombined
Theannualpublicationofthisdataisimportantasacrucialinputtotheongoingconsiderationof
Australia’stelecommunicationsnetworkssuchastheACCC’sRegionalMobileInfrastructureInquiry
 ACCCTelstra’sMigrationPlanVariationapprovedFebruary
 ACCCExtendedCOVID-ForceMajeureEventanddeferralofdisconnectionsSeptember
 ACCCDeferralofdisconnectionsintheholidayperiodDecember
 ACCCForceMajeureEvent-QLDandNSWfloodsMarch
 ACCCMeasurestoaddressregionalmobileissuesOctoberp
 ACCCMobileInfrastructureReport
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Communications market report – 2021–22
 MeasuringBroadbandAustraliaprogramreports
TheACCC’sMBAreportsprovideAustralianconsumerswithaccurateandindependentinformation
aboutbroadbandspeedstoassisttheirpurchasingdecisionsThereportsincreasetransparencyand
encouragegreaterperformance-basedcompetitionandbetterinternetperformancethroughout
thecountry
Quarterlyreports
TheACCCreleasednewMBAreportsthatfocussedonperformanceinSeptemberandDecember
andFebruaryandMay

Keyobservationsincludedthefollowing
DownloadspeedsonNBNfixed-lineservicesshowedslightimprovementandsustainedstrong
performanceasshowninFigurebelow
NBNFixedWirelessservicesalsoshowedimprovementsindownloadperformanceover-
NBNuploadsfellshortofmaximumplanspeedsduetothelackofoverprovisioningbyNBNCoon
theuplink
UrbanNBNfixed-lineservicesperformedbetterthanregionalservices
FTTNconnectionscontinuedtounder-performcomparedtoothernetworkconnections
Figure 16: Measuring Broadband Australia – fixed-line download and upload comparison September 2021 to
May 2022
Sep–21
Dec–21
Feb–22
May–22
75
80
85
90
95
100
Download Upload
Plan speed (%)
Specialcomparativereportreleased
In–theACCCandtheNewZealandCommerceCommissionjointlyissuedaspecialreport
comparingtrans-Tasmanbroadbandperformance

ThisreportfoundthatAustraliaandNewZealand
hadbroadlysimilarfibretothepremisesandfixedwirelessperformance
Fibretothepremisesconnectionsreceivedsimilardownloadspeedsinbothcountriesbut
NewZealandersexperiencedmoreconsistentperformanceduringtheeveninghoursForfixed
wirelessAustralianconsumersreceivedfasterdownloadspeedsandmorestableconnectionsthan
NewZealanders
 ACCCMeasuringBroadbandAustraliaprogram–Performancereports
 ACCCMeasuringBroadbandAustraliaprogram–Performancereports
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Communications market report – 2021–22
ThefasteruploadspeedsonNewZealand’snetworkscanbeattributedtodierencesinconfiguration
NewZealandoverprovisionsplanspeedsforbothdownloadsanduploadswhereasinAustraliaNBN
Coonlyoverprovisionsthedownlink
MBAprogramenhancements
In–theFederalGovernmentdecidedtoextendtheMBAprogramuntilJuneTheACCC
expandedtheprogramin–tocoveranewRSPadditionalnetworksandanadditionalreporting
metricThesechangesbenefitwidergroupsofbroadbandconsumersandenabletheACCCtoidentify
potentialareasforimprovementonNBNandothersuperfastnetworks
New RSP – Launtel
TheMarchreportincludedLauntelInDecemberLauntelachievedofdownloadplan
speedduringthebusyeveninghourscomparedtoanaverageofforotherprovidersAnabove-
averageresultfromanemergingretailerisapositivedevelopmentforconsumersandforcompetitionin
theresidentialbroadbandmarket
Non-NBN superfast access networks
Australiansconnecttotheinternetthroughavarietyofnon-NBNsuperfastnetworksTheJuneand
AugustreportsincludedresultsfromUnitiGroupwhichoperatestheOpticommandLBNCo
superfastnetworksInMaytheaveragedownloadspeedsonUniti’sfibretothepremises
connectionswereofplanspeedduringthebusyeveninghours
Addition of ‘busiest hour’ metric
TheDecemberreporthighlightedanewmetricreportingRSPperformanceduringthe‘busiest
hour’Thismetricisaproxyforwhennetworksareunderextremelevelsofusage
RSPs’busiesthourspeedsvariedbetweenandofplanspeedinSeptemberThisisa
widerrangethanthecorresponding‘allhours’and‘busyhours’(–pm)metricsThisindicatesthat
peaksofhighdemandaectedsomeretailersmorethanothers
MeasuringBroadbandAustraliatestingproviderreappointed
TheACCCcompletedanopentenderprocurementprocessduringandselectedSamKnowstoas
thetestingproviderfortheMBAprogramuntilJune
ContinuedcallforvolunteersforMBAprogram
TheACCCcontinuestocallonbroadbandcustomersonNBNandnon-NBNnetworkstoparticipatein
theprogramviameasuringbroadbandaustraliacomau
 ChangestovariousRKRs
DivisionandInternetActivityrecordkeepingrulereview(December)
TheDivisionandInternetActivityRKRreviewwascompletedinDecemberbutthechangesto
theRKRstookeectinthe–ThisreviewresultedinsubstantivechangestobothRKRs

TheDivisionRKRhasbeensimplifiedandupdatedtoreflectmoderntechnologiesandmarket
structuresDatareportedrelatingtointernetservicesnowrequiresrevenuetotalsbrokeninto
categoriesNBNnon-NBNfixedmobilebroadbandMMandhomewirelessbroadbandservices
Previousrequirementsforthenumberofcustomersanddetailedrevenuebreakdownshavebeen
removedVocusisrequiredtoreportundertheDivisionRKRforthefirsttime
TheInternetActivityRKRnowrequiresmoredetaileddataaboutwhichNBNspeedtiersconsumers
areonanddataaboutMMandhomewirelessbroadbandservicesisreportedforthefirsttimeThe
inclusionofMMandhomewirelessbroadbandservicesinbothRKRsreflectstheevolvingmarketand
allowstheACCCtomonitortheseemergingtechnologies
 ACCCRecordKeepingRules(RKR)updateDivisionRKRandInternetActivityRKRConsultationPaperMay
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Communications market report – 2021–22
MeasuringBroadbandAustraliaprogramRKR(December)
InDecembertheACCCfinalisedchangestotheMBARKRtocollectmoredetaileddatafor
theprogram

ThenewamendmentsrequireNBNCotoprovideadditionallocationIDdataand
informationforNBNservicesregardlessofunderlyingtechnology
TPGgroupRKRconsolidation(May)
InMayamendmentsweremadetotheInfrastructureRKRDivisionRKRandInternet
ActivityRKRfollowingabriefpublicconsultationprocess

ThechangesallowTPGtosubmitasingle
consolidatedreturnundereachRKRtoreflectthatvariousrelatedcompaniesincludingiiNetand
VodafoneareownedbyTPGTheamendmentsweremadeattherequestofTPGandarenotlikelyto
aectthequalityoruseofthedatareported
InfrastructureRKRupdate(August)
InAugusttheACCCfinalisedchangestotheInfrastructureRKRfollowingaconsultationprocess
beganinOctober

Thechanges
updatedthelistofrequiredrecordkeepersandaddingnewproviderstotheRKR
requirecoveragemapstoreflectanMNO’soverallnationalfootprintforeachtechnology
requirecoveragemapsforboth‘outdoorcoverage’and‘external-antennacoverage’
requirecoveragemapsatthestateandterritoryornationallevelandadetailedlegend
requirethattheACCCisinformedofanychangestoreportingmethodology
Thesechangeswillapplyforthereportingperiodonwards
AfterconsultationwithindustrytheACCCdecidedthatreportingregardingend-userCANequipment
andsatelliteproviderswouldnotbeintroducedNeitherwouldastandardisedsetofassumptionsfor
coveragemapsbemandated
NBNSIORKRupdate
InOctobertheACCCbeganconsultationonupdatestotheNBNSIORKRThisprocessis
ongoingandanupdatedRKRhasnotbeenreleasedyet
 Enforcement and compliance activities
 Anti-Competitiveconduct
TheACCCinvestigatesanti-competitiveconductunderboththetelecommunicationsspecificprovisions
(PartXIB)andgeneralanti-competitiveconductprovisions(PartIV)oftheCCATheACCCalsohas
aroleundertheTelecommunicationsActinrelationtovariousprovisionsincludingthoseconcerning
NBNaccesstofacilitiesandthenumberingplan
In–theACCCcommencedinvestigationsintopotentialcontraventionsoftheCCAandorthe
TelecommunicationsActspecifictotelecommunicationsmarkets
 InvestigationsundertheAustralianConsumerLaw
InadditiontheACCCcommencedinvestigationsundertheACLrelatingtothetelecommunications
sectorOftheseinvestigationsremainedongoingasatJune
 ACCCMeasuringBroadbandAustraliaprogramrecordkeepingandreportingrules
 ACCCRecordKeepingRules(RKR)updateInfrastructureRKRDivisionRKRandInternetActivityRKRConsultation
PaperMarch
 ACCCInfrastructureRKRAugustamendmentsAugust
30
Communications market report – 2021–22
 Litigation
InstitutionofproceedingsagainstTelstraTPGInternetandOptusforalleged
misleadingrepresentationsinrelationtoNBNspeeds
OnAugusttheACCCinstitutedseparateproceedingsagainsteachofTelstraCorporationLtd
TPGInternetPtyLtdandOptusInternetPtyLtdformakingallegedfalseormisleadingrepresentations
intheirpromotionsofsomeMbpsandMbpsNBNplansinbreachoftheACL

TheACCCallegedthatthecompaniesmaderepresentationstosomeconsumersonFTTNconnections
thattheywouldtestthemaximumspeedoftheirconnectionsnotifytheimpactedconsumeroftheir
maximumspeediftheirlinewasunderperformingandoerthemremediesifthemaximumspeedwas
belowtheirplan’sstatedspeedbutfailedtodosoformanycustomers
ThisinvestigationwaspromptedbyTelstraself-reportingelementsofthisconducttotheACCCand
byinformationintheMBAReportsindicatingconsumerswerenotreceivingthespeedstheywere
payingforInNovembertheFederalCourtorderedpenaltiestotallingmillionaftereach
partyadmittedmakingfalseormisleadingrepresentationstoconsumerswhenpromotingcertainNBN
internetplans

 TelstraOptusspectrummatter
TheACCCwasconcernedaboutTelstra’sregistrationofradiocommunicationssitesinlowband
spectrumthatmightinterferewithOptus’planstorolloutitsGnetworknationally
FollowinganintensiveinvestigationtheACCCacceptedacourt-enforceableundertakingfromTelstra
toaddresstheconcerns

TheundertakingrequiresTelstratoderegisterallremainingradiocommunicationssitesitregisteredwith
theACMAinthemegahertz(MHz)spectrumbandinJanuarythatwouldhaveprevented
Optusfromearlyaccesstothespectrum
 Industry and consumer education activities
 Telecommunicationsnon-discriminationobligationsguidelines
OnSeptembertheACCCreleasedguidelinesrelatingtothenon-discriminationobligations
(NDO)underPartXICoftheCCAandPartoftheTelecommunicationsAct

Theguidanceisan
industry-focusedplainlanguageguidetothenon-discriminationprovisionsandhowtheACCCwill
considerNBNCoandotheraccessprovidersnon-discriminationobligationscompliance
TheguidancecoversanoverviewoftheregulatoryframeworkdiscriminationinhowAccessProviders
supplyservicesandinfavourofthemselvesenforcementofthenon-discriminationprovisionsand
workedexamplesofpotentialdiscriminationissues
 BroadbandSpeedClaimsIndustryGuidance
IntheACCCundertookareviewofitsBroadbandSpeedClaimsIndustryGuidanceTheguidance
providesRSPswithassistanceregardingthebestpracticeforadvertisingthespeedsofbroadband
servicestheyprovide
PublicconsultationbeganinJanuarywithafocusonuploadspeedinformationandfactors
aectingspeedsonemergingfixedwirelessnetworksFurthertargetedconsultationswithstakeholders
alsooccurred
 ACCCTelstraOptusandTPGallegedlymisledconsumersoverNBNmaximumspeedsmediareleaseAugust
 ACCCTelcostopayatotalofmillionformisleadingstatementsaboutNBNmaximumspeedsmediarelease
November
 ACCCTelstraundertakestoaddressGcompetitionconcernsmediareleaseAugust
 ACCCTelecommunicationsnon-discriminationguidelinesSeptember
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TheACCCpublishedrevisedguidanceinOctoberpromotingtransparentinformationabout
uploadspeedsandaboutissuesthatmayaectservicessuppliedovernewandemergingfixed
wirelessnetworks

 Mergers, authorisations and exclusive dealings
 Mergers
TheACCCreviewsproposedmergersandacquisitionstoassesswhethertheywouldbelikelyto
substantiallylessencompetitionMergerpartieshaveavenuesavailabletohaveaproposedacquisition
consideredandassessedbytheACCConcompetitiongroundsinformalclearanceprocessandmerger
authorisationMoreinformationaboutpublicinformalmergerreviewsandmergerauthorisationsis
availableontheACCC’smergersregisters
 TPGandTelstramergerauthorisation
InMaytheACCCreceivedanapplicationformergerauthorisationfromTelstraCorporation
LimitedandTPGinrelationtoanauthorisationtousespectrumwhichisdeemedbysectionAofthe
RadiocommunicationsAct(Cth)tobeanacquisitionforthepurposesofthemergerprovisionsof
theCCA
TelstraandTPGhaveenteredintointerrelatedagreementsinrespectofaMulti-OperatorCore
Network(MOCN)commercialarrangementaMOCNServiceAgreementaSpectrumAuthorisation
AgreementandaMobileSiteTransitionAgreement
TheACCCiscurrentlyreviewingtheproposal

 Authorisations
UndertheACCC’sauthorisationandnotificationreviewfunctiontheACCCalsoreviewsandmakes
decisionsaboutapplicationsforauthorisationandornotificationsforarrangementsorconduct
(includingproposedmergers)thatmayotherwisebreachcompetitionlaw
PrimarilythisisdonebyevaluatingwhethertheACCCissatisfiedthatarrangementsorconductare
likelytoresultinanetpublicbenefitAuthorisationsmayalsobegrantedforcertainformsofconductif
theACCCissatisfiedthatasubstantiallesseningofcompetitionisunlikely
In–theACCCreceivedonecommunications-relatedapplicationforauthorisationfromTelstra
andNBNCorelatingtotheDefinitiveAgreements

 Exclusivedealingnotifications
NotificationisanalternativetoauthorisationforcertainarrangementssuchasexclusivedealingLike
authorisationthenotificationprocessprovidesprotectionfromlegalactionundertheCCAunlessthe
ACCCissatisfiedthattheconducthasthepurposeorislikelytohavetheeectofsubstantiallylessen
competitionandinnotlikelytoresultinanetpublicbenefit
In–theACCCdidnotreceiveanynotificationsofexclusivedealinginvolvingparticipantsinthe
communicationsindustry
 ACCCBroadbandspeedclaimsindustryguidanceOctober
 ACCCTelstraCorporationLimitedandTPGTelecomLimitedproposedspectrumsharingMay
 ACCCTelstraCorporationLimitedNBNCoandOrsMarch
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 Advice, advocacy and contributions to policy
processes
 CorporatecontrolpercentagereviewundersZH
InDecembertheTelecommunicationsActwasamendedtoestablishamandatory
telecommunicationstoweraccessregimethatincludeslicencedandnon-licencedtelecommunications
infrastructureoperators
Thechangemeantthatcarriersthatmovetowerassetstonon-carrierentitiescannotavoidlegislated
accessobligationsInJunetheACCCprovidedareviewtotheMinisteronthecorporatecontrol
percentagetoapplyunderthenewaccessregimeThisreviewrecommendedthatthedefault
corporatecontrolthresholdshouldapply

 Regionalmobileinfrastructureinquiry–
OnMarchtheGovernmentannouncedithaddirectedtheACCCtoexaminetheeconomicsof
mobilenetworkstoweraccessandmobileinfrastructureinregionalareasTheinquiryisalsoexamining
thefeasibilityofprovidingmobileroamingduringnaturaldisastersorotheremergencies
OnJulytheACCCreleasedaninitialconsultationpaperandinvitedsubmissionsTheACCC
receivedsubmissionscoveringthefollowingkeythemes
theincentivestobuildnewtowerinfrastructurearelowinregionalruralandremoteareasand
furtherregionalexpansionisreliantongovernmentco-funding
concernsthatitwillnotnecessarilybeeasierformobileoperatorstosecuretowerspaceand
increasedcostsforco-locationontowerassetswhichhavebeensoldrecently
servicequalityandcoverageissuesincludinglackofcoverageinareasthatmaybeindicatedas
havingcoverageinmobileoperatorcoveragemaps
theimportanceoftelecommunicationsservicesbeingaccessibleduringandafteremergenciesand
naturaldisasters
theimportanceofimplementingemergencyredundancysystemssuchasbackuppower
infrastructuretocomplementanyfuturetemporarymobileroamingarrangements

TheACCCisseekingfurtherpublicinputviaasurveyorsubmissionsattheACCC’sConsultationHub

TheACCCintendstopublishadraftreportforstakeholdercommentbyAprilAfinalreportisdue
byJune
 ACMAspectrumadvice
Requestforadvice––GHzremoteallocation
OnAugusttheACMArequestedadvicefromtheACCCregardingallocationlimitsfortheissue
ofapparatuslicencesinthe–gigahertz(GHz)bandinremoteareasOnNovemberthe
ACCCadvisedtheACMAthatbasedontheinformationavailablethattherewasariskofspectrum
monopolisation

Therewasaconcernregardingtheimpactthismayhaveontheabilityofvariousspectrumusersto
deployservicesindownstreammarketsHowevertheevidencesuggestedthattherewasuncertain
demandforthespectrumandthegeographicalboundariesoftherelevantmarketswasunclear
Competingdemandwasalsolikelytocomefromusersthatdonotcompeteinthesamemarket
 ACCCsZHreviewofthecorporatecontrolpercentage-ACCCreporttotheMinisterforCommunications
SeptemberaccessedOctober
 ACCCRegionalmobileinfrastructureinquiry-July
 ACCCRegionalMobileInfrastructureInquiry-ConsumerSurvey
 ACCCAllocationlimitsadviceforthe–GHzRemotespectrumallocationNovember
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Communications market report – 2021–22
ForthesereasonstheACCCdidnotconsiderithadsucientbasistorecommendallocationlimits
toACMA
Requestforadvice-GHzandGHzspectrumallocation
OnDecembertheACMArequestedadvicefromtheACCConallocationlimitsforspectrum
licencesintheGHzandGHzbandsOnAugusttheACCCadvisedthatitconsidered
allocationlimitswererequiredtopromotecompetitioninthedownstreammobileandfixedbroadband
marketspost-auctionTheACCCrecommendedalimitofMHzofspectrumbetweenand
GHzinbothmetropolitanandregionalareas

 ACCCsubmissiontotheRegionalTelecommunications
IndependentReviewCommittee
InSeptembertheACCCmadeasubmissiontotheRTIRCthathighlightedtheimportanceof
reliabletelecommunicationsservicesinregionalandremoteareas

TheACCCnotedthatimproving
connectivityinregionalAustraliarequiredsignificantongoinginvestmentininfrastructureHoweverthe
ACCCsuggestedthatthecommercialincentivesbecomeincreasinglymarginalwithoutgovernment
subsidisationTheACCCsupportedGovernmentco-contributionprogramsfocusingonneutralhost
solutionsandinnovativefundingmodelstopromotecompetitionandmaximisechoiceofproviders
TheACCCalsonotedthatmobileroaminginlimitedandwell-definedcircumstancessuchasanatural
disasterwouldprovideanimportantsafetymeasurewithoutimpactingcompetition
RTIRCrecommendedthatpreferencebegiventogovernmentfundedmobileinfrastructurethat
providessharednetworkaccessThisincludedafocuson
thedesignoftheMobileBlackSpotProgramtowardsneutralhostsolutionsandinnovativefunding
modelstoencourageparticipation
thattheAustralianGovernmentundertakeafeasibilitystudytoconsiderthecapabilityformobile
roamingtobedeployedinemergencycircumstances
BothrecommendationsrelatetosuggestionsmadebytheACCCinitssubmissiontotheRTIRCreview
includingconcernsaboutnetworkresilienceduringemergenciesandhowco-contributionprograms
couldbedesignedtopromoteincreasedmobilecoverageandpromoteecientuseofinfrastructure
 ACCCAllocationlimitsadvicefortheGHzandGHzspectrumallocationAugust
 ACCCRegionalTelecommunicationReview–ACCCSubmissionSeptember
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Communications market report – 2021–22
. Appendices
 Other competition indicators
 Annualpricechanges(%)–advertisedprice
Table 5.1: Advertised price changes (%) for the 25th percentile from 2018–19 to 2021–22
– – – – –to–
NBN     
Non-NBN    
Totalfixed-line    
Post-paidmobilephone - 
Pre-paidmobilephone - -  - -
Totalmobilephone - -  - -
Mobilebroadband  -
Source ACCCestimatesbasedoninformationfromRSPwebsites
Table 5.2: Advertised price changes (%) for the median from 2018–19 to 2021–22
– – – – –to–
NBN     
Non-NBN    
Totalfixed-line     
Post-paidmobilephone - -   
Pre-paidmobilephone - - -
Totalmobilephone - -  -
Mobilebroadband  -  - -
Source ACCCestimatesbasedoninformationfromRSPwebsites
Table 5.3: Advertised price changes (%) for the 75th percentile from 2018–19 to 2021–22
– – – – –to–
NBN  
Non-NBN -   
Totalfixed-line    
Post-paidmobilephone -  
Pre-paidmobilephone -  - -
Totalmobilephone - -  
Mobilebroadband -  - -
Source ACCCestimatesbasedoninformationfromRSPwebsites
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 Annualpricechanges(%)–feature-adjusted(hedonicapproach)
Table 5.4: Feature-adjusted price changes (%) for the hedonic approach from 2017–18 to 2021–22
– – – – –to–
NBN - - - - -
Non-NBN  - - - -
Totalfixed-line - - - - -
Post-paidmobilephone - - - - -
Pre-paidmobilephone - - - - -
Totalmobilephone - - - - -
Mobilebroadband - -  - -
Source ACCCestimatesbasedoninformationfromRSPwebsites
 Annualpricepoints()–advertisedprice
Table 5.5: Annual price points ($) for the 25th percentile from 2017–18 to 2021–22
– – – – –
NBN     
Non-NBN     
Totalfixed-line     
Post-paidmobilephone     
Pre-paidmobilephone     
Totalmobilephone     
Mobilebroadband     
Source ACCCestimatesbasedoninformationfromRSPwebsites
Table 5.6: Annual price points ($) for the median from 2017–18 to 2021–22
– – – – –
NBN     
Non-NBN     
Totalfixed-line     
Post-paidmobilephone     
Pre-paidmobilephone     
Totalmobilephone     
Mobilebroadband     
Source ACCCestimatesbasedoninformationfromRSPwebsites
Table 5.7: Annual price points ($) for the 75th percentile from 2017–18 to 2021–22
– – – – –
NBN     
Non-NBN     
Totalfixed-line     
Post-paidmobilephone     
Pre-paidmobilephone     
Totalmobilephone     
Mobilebroadband     
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Communications market report – 2021–22
 Mobilesitesdata–NumberofGsitesbyMNOandABS
remotenessindex
ABSRemotenessArea   
MajorCitiesofAustralia
Optus   
Telstra   
TPG -  
InnerRegionalAustralia
Optus   
Telstra   
TPG -  
OuterRegionalAustralia
Optus - - 
Telstra   
RemoteAustralia
Optus - - 
Telstra -  
VeryRemoteAustralia
Telstra - - 
Total
Optus   
Telstra   
TPG -  
 Advertised price approach to price monitoring
Theadvertisedpriceapproachmeasureschangesinthenominalpricesofplansoeredtoconsumers
Howeveritdoesnottakeintoaccountchangesinproductfeaturessuchashigherdataallowancesor
fasterdownloadspendsovertimeItisareflectionofwhatconsumersareactuallypaying
DataonmarketoersaredrawnannuallyfromCriticalInformationSummaries

whichRSPsmust
publishontheirwebsite
RSPplansarethenassembledinascendingorderaccordingtopricewithpricepointsidentified
thethpercentile(thelowerpricepoint)
themedian
thethpercentile(upperpricepoint)
Thesepricepointsactasproxiesforentry-leveltypicalandhigherendconsumersrespectively
Accordinglytheyprovideanindicationofhowdierentgroupsareimpactedbychangesinadvertised
pricesovertime
ItshouldbenotedthatintheadvertisedpricechangesforNBNandnon-NBNfixedservicesfixed
broadbandplansthatarebundledwithVoIPandanentertainmentservicesuchasFetchTVorFoxtel
havebeenexcludedfromtheanalysisinthisreportThese‘tripleplay’productbundlesareinsome
instancesveryhighlypricedandonlyserveanichemarketofconsumersIncludingtheseplanswould
tendtoinflatethemeasuresofadvertisedpricesandnotberepresentativeofthepricesthatthe
majorityofconsumerspay
 PricesintheCriticalInformationSummariesmaynotreflectpricespredominantlyadvertisedonthewebsiteofservice
providersduetotime-limiteddiscounting
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Communications market report – 2021–22
 Hedonic approach to price monitoring
The‘hedonicapproach’usedinthisreportwasdevelopedincollaborationwithEconomicInsightsan
economicconsultingfirmItaimstoprovideabetterindicationofoverallpricechangesinacontinually
changingtelecommunicationsmarketThehedonicapproachachievesthisbyestimatinghowprices
changewithtimewhilecontrollingforthedierencesinthefeaturesandattributesofplansThe
percentagepricechangesprovideinformationaboutpricemovementsfromoneyeartothenext
Howevertheydonotprovideanyinformationaboutactualpricelevels(thatistheadvertisedprice)
The‘hedonic’approachemploysthefollowingmethod
a ProductsaredefinedasbundlesofcharacteristicsAfixedbroadbandproductforexample
isabundleofcharacteristicsincluding(amongothercharacteristics)dataallowanceand
downloadspeed
b TheestimationoftheindexinvolvesaregressionequationTheregressionequationdescribeshow
thepriceofaplandependsuponthecharacteristicsoftheplanandtherelevanttimeperiod
 Hedonicpricingmethodologies
Forthepurposesofthisreportapproacheswereinvestigatedthepooleddataapproachandthe
movingwindowsmethod
Thepooleddataapproachinvolvescombiningor‘pooling’ofdataacrossallreferenceyearsThisis
implementedbyestimatingoneregressionequationforallthereferenceyears
Themovingwindowsapproachincontrastinvolvesestimatingaregressionequationforeachpair
ofconsecutivereferenceyearsForexampleifthereareyearsofdatatherewouldberegression
equationsoneforyearsandanotherforyearsandandafinalequationforyearsand
Inthisreportthepooleddataapproachwaschosenusingfinancialyears’worthofdataHad
themovingwindowsapproachbeenadoptedconsecutiveyearsofdatawouldbeusedforeach
regressionequation
 Variablesused
Fortheregressionanalysisthefollowingvariableswereused
a Forfixedbroadbandandmobilebroadbandplansthevariablesweremonthlypricedataallowance
downloadspeedvoiceinclusions(includinglocalnationalandmobilecalls)TVbundlingaccess
technologyaccessnetworkandRSPaswellasvariablesforeachfinancialyear
b Forpost-paidandpre-paidmobileplansthevariablesweremonthlypriceunlimitedcallsunlimited
SMShandsetinclusiondatainclusionsGtechnologynetworksandRSPaswellasvariablesfor
eachfinancialyear
 Assumptions
Theregressionmodelwasspecifiedasfollows
a Observationswerenotweighted
Insomehedonicpricingmodelstheobservationsareweightedtoreflecttherelativeimportance
oftheobservationsTheACCC’sestimateshereusedanunweightedmodelprimarilybecauseofits
greatersimplicityandissuesofavailabilityofdatatoestimateweights
b Log-logregression
EconomicInsightsfoundthatalog-logregressionprovidedasubstantiallybetterfitthanother
specificationsofthefunctionalform(linearandlog-linear)oftheregressionequation
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Communications market report – 2021–22
c Randomeectsmodel
EconomicInsightsfoundthatfirstaregressionwithretailer-specificeectswasabetterfitthan
anequationthatdoesnotincluderetailer-specificeectsSecondthehypothesisthatrandom
eectsarezerowasrejectedandthehypothesisthattherandomeectsestimatorisecientand
consistentwasnotrejected
d Right-hand-sidecontinuousvariablesarecubic
Eachcontinuousvariableontheright-handsideoftheequationincluded
i thelogofthevariable
ii thesquareofthelogand
iii thecubeofthelog
Thesquareandcubeofthelogofthevariablewereincludedbecausethisgivesrisetoamore
generalfunctionalformandinmanyoftheregressionequationsestimatedthesquareandcubeof
thelogofthevariablewerefoundtobestatisticallysignificant
 Limitations of price monitoring approaches
AccountingfornewplansintoapriceindexisnotasimpleprocessNewplanscandierconsiderably
fromolderplansintheircharacteristicsForexamplenewerplanscanoerfasterdownloadspeeds
andgreaterdataallowancesthanolderplansAsaresultofthesechangeswearenolongercomparing
pricesoflike-for-likeproductsandpricechangesforaproductmayoccurduetochangesinquality
andorstickerpricePricestatisticiansrefertothisissueastheneedtopricetoconstantquality
Apriceindexshouldmeasure‘pure’pricechangesandasaresultadjustmentsmustbemadefor
changesincharacteristics(orchangesinquality)ofindividualproductsTheseadjustmentsarereferred
toasqualityadjustmentsAssuchadecreaseinquality-adjustedpricesdoesnotnecessarilyindicatea
dropinadvertisedpricebutmayinsteadindicateanincreaseinquality