Displaying items by tag: ACCC

GUEST OPINION: In the wake of the recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) decision to block the Telstra/TPG national roaming agreement, the importance of passive network sharing has gained newfound significance.

Australia Post is paying about $2.9 milliion in compensation to businesses for lost or damaged parcels after the competition watchdog the ACCC took leagal action against the postal service.

Vodafone Australia, one of the country's biggest telco operators, has switched off its 3G network last Friday, 15 December.

The ACCC is warning franchisors to urgently review and amend their standard form franchise agreements or be prepared for potential enforcement action after a review of franchising contracts found wide-ranging concerns.

Australian internet provider Launtel has emerged as the best performing telco with customers receiving 103.8% of their NBN plan’s maximum speeds during peak hours between 7pm and 11pm, the ACCC’s 23rd Measuring Broadband Australia report found.

Australia’s competition watchdog the ACCC has welcomed the Australian Government’s in-principle agreement to new competition and consumer laws recommended by the ACCC to address harms caused by digital platforms, and the potential benefits to consumers and small businesses from the regulatory changes.

The ACCC has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from yoghurt manufacturer MOO Premium Foods Pty Ltd (MOO) following an investigation into MOO’s ‘100% ocean plastic’ representations on its yoghurt packaging, website, and social media pages.

The continued expansion of Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft into emerging technologies and other markets demonstrates the critical need for regulatory reform, according to Australia’s competition watchdog, the ACCC.

Australians have fallen prey to NBN impersonation scams with losses totalling to $1.2 million during the first nine months of the year, a 21% decline compared to 2022, which recorded a $1.6 million loss over the same period, according to data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch.

Consumers are being warned to watch out for scam websites impersonating high-profile Australian retailers when shopping online this Black Friday, Cyber Monday sale weekend on 24 to 27 November.

Generative AI refers to the use of AI to create new content like text, images, music, audio and videos, automating tasks to reduce human error, improving efficiency in the workplace. But while it can be boon for businesses, others use it to inflict emotional harm. Cybercriminals are using AI to create fake people online by generating fake photos and audios and programming bots to have a realistic text conversation to trick Australians on dating apps.

The final report of the ACCC’s regional mobile infrastructure inquiry has prompted the government to announce a scoping study to require the telecommunications industry develop an emergency roaming during natural disasters to help Australians stay connected.

The operators of the National Broadband Network NBN Co said today their wholesale prices have resisted inflation and have not increased in real terms over the last ten years, “despite the fact that most of the company’s input costs have been subject to inflation”.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has approved broadband operator NBN Co's special access undertaking nearly after undergoing several rounds of changes for nearly 20 months.

A large number of phantom carriage service providers from Australia's 1,500 telecommunications retailers are making it harder for the government to regulate the telco sector, according to a discussion paper released last week.

Telecommunications company Optus is seeking the approval of the Federal Government to charge content streamers so they can financially contribute to network costs as revealed in the telco's position paper Fair Share Contribution Submission.

Smaller broadband providers are giving major telcos a run for their money: Vocus and Aussie Broadband gained almost 62,000 services while Telstra and TPG Telecom declined by 76,000 in total during the June quarter, according to ACCC’s latest NBN Wholesale Market Indicators Report.

The competition watchdog, the ACCC, is encouraging businesses to review their standard form contracts and remove or amend any unfair contract terms before new penalties take effect.

National Broadband Network operator NBN Co has withdrawn its proposed November 2022 variation to its Special Access Undertaking (SAU) and simultaneously submitted a revised variation proposal to the ACCC.

TPG Telecom is seeking better commercial alternatives after it decided it will no longer ask the Federal Court to review the Australian Competition Tribunal's unfavourable ruling against its network sharing spectrum deal with Telstra.