Australia: ACCC to drag ISPs before court over slow internet speeds

Australia’s competition watchdog is likely to haul several internet service providers into court before the end of the year over slow broadband speeds and inflated performance claims.

Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Rod Sims told a senate estimates hearing on Tuesday night that the organization was investigating “some egregious examples” of ISPs offering below-par services.

One of the active investigations underway is of Telstra, which earlier this month admitted that thousands of its NBN customers were sold broadband plans with speeds that weren’t achievable.

However, Sims said the ACCC was looking much more broadly than Telstra “at the behaviour of other providers as well”.

The investigations are being carried out by ACCC enforcement teams, and officials for the commission said they were “progressing” fast to conclusion.

“I always try to up the stakes a bit,” Sims said.

“I’d be surprised if we don’t have a couple of cases in court by the end of the year.”

Specifically on the Telstra investigation, Sims said the ACCC was “looking at that to see whether [Telstra’s response was] appropriate and to understand the background” to the disclosure.

Full Content: ITNews

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.