A PYMNTS Company

Australia’s Competition Watchdog Opens Mobile Network Inquiry

By  |  August 5, 2026
AI, revenue, metrics

Australia’s competition regulator has launched a year-long antitrust and market inquiry into mobile network competition in regional areas, including whether telecommunications companies should be required to let customers access rival networks where their own service is unavailable, according to reporting by ABC News Australia.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the 12-month review will examine the potential impact of mandated domestic roaming and broader infrastructure-sharing arrangements on competition, investment and consumer access, according to ABC. The inquiry also will assess whether mobile providers should be required to share radio access network infrastructure, such as towers and radio equipment.

    The review comes as policymakers and consumer advocates have intensified calls to improve mobile coverage in regional and remote Australia, where gaps in service have fueled concerns about limited competition. According to ABC News Australia, the issue gained renewed attention after the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review recommended that the communications minister direct the ACCC to revisit domestic roaming, though that directive was never issued. Instead, the regulator has chosen to begin the inquiry independently.

    Read more: French Telecom Giants’ €20.35 Billion SFR Breakup Faces Lengthy Antitrust Review

    According to ABC News Australia, ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said market conditions have changed significantly since the regulator last examined the issue in 2017, citing developments including satellite-based direct-to-device services as new factors that could affect competition and mobile coverage. She said the telecommunications sector is evolving rapidly and that the issues require careful assessment.

    The ACCC’s previous inquiry in 2017 concluded that mandatory domestic roaming could reduce incentives for carriers to invest in regional networks, according to ABC News Australia. The latest review will revisit those conclusions in light of technological and market changes that have occurred since then.

    Consumer groups have argued that requiring carriers to provide domestic roaming would improve service availability and increase competitive pressure, particularly outside major cities. However, ABC News Australia reported that some advocates believe the new inquiry may take too long to deliver relief for regional users who continue to face unreliable coverage.

    As part of the process, the ACCC plans to publish a discussion paper and hold consultation forums in regional and remote communities before determining whether regulatory intervention is warranted, according to ABC News Australia.

    Source: ABC