Displaying items by tag: Mobile roaming

Analyst firm Juniper Research has predicted it will take three years for mobile roaming activity to recover from the effects of travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rules to better protect Australians against the bill shock that can come from high international mobile roaming charges, have been emhanced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Proposed changes to the regulation of international mobile roaming (IMR) services will come into effect in the Australian telecoms sector in January next year under draft changes put forward by the telecommunications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

New Zealand’s major mobile phone network companies will still have to provide access to their networks for new mobile operators entering the market, following a decision by the competition regulator against investigating whether mobile roaming services should be deregulated.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking public and industry input to its review of the International Mobile Roaming Standard that ensures mobile service providers give consumers information about costs for using their Australian mobile service overseas.

The New Zealand Commerce Commission has taken a preliminary decision to retain the power to regulate mobile roaming in the country, in the event that it is required in future.

The Federal Court has rejected Vodafone Hutchison Australia's application to review the conduct of the competition watchdog in holding a public inquiry and making a draft decision not to declare mobile roaming.

Telstra has doubled data allowances on its international day pass and expanded coverage to an additional 17 countries.

In the wake of the competition watchdog’s decision not to declare mobile roaming services, the telecommunications consumer interest group ACCAN has called for existing mobile networks to be further upgraded to improve capacity and reduce congestion, particularly in regional and rural areas.

Telstra has, unsurprisingly, welcomed the decision of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission not to declared mobile roaming.

The ACCC reports deciding "not to declare domestic mobile roaming", but has "identified a range of regulatory and policy measures that could improve inadequate mobile phone coverage and poor quality of service in regional Australia".

Optus has disputed suggestions that regulation of mobile roaming services in Australia might lead to price reductions for consumers and has taken a swipe at competitor Vodafone Hutchison Australia and its response to an ACCC draft decision on roaming.

The European Union has abolished roaming charges for people using mobile phones, meaning that those travelling within the countries that make up the union will pay the same rates as they pay at home.

Telstra’s rollout of the federal government’s Mobile Black Spot Program is ramping up further and the carrier is using its announcement to justify the recent ACCC draft decision not to declare mobile roaming.

Hardly any telcos or telecommunications lobby groups are willing to come out in support of Vodafone Hutchison Australia's move to take the ACCC to court over its recent draft decision not to declare mobile roaming, though many were quick to slam the competition regulator when it made the original decision to do so.

Vodafone Hutchison Australia is taking the ACCC to the Federal Court over its recent draft decision not to declare domestic mobile roaming, claiming that the review process is flawed.

The Australian Labor Party has adopted a wait-and-see policy on the decision by the competition regulator not to declare wholesale mobile roaming and open up telecommunications to greater market competition.

The competition watchdog has cast aside industry opposition and concerns and made a draft decision not to declare wholesale mobile roaming services, saying there is insufficient evidence that such a declaration will improve competition amongst telcos.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has weighed into the mobile services regulation debate, warning the ACCC in a letter that declaring domestic roaming could hamper private investment.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released a discussion paper on wholesale domestic roaming services as it considers whether regulation of mobile roaming in the Australian market would promote competition among telecommunications services providers.