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Australia: Competition watchdog rules against using mobile phone roaming as solution to blackspots

By  |  October 23, 2017

Mobile phone blackspots will not be solved by allowing domestic roaming, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has ruled, but Vodafone will continue challenging the decision in court.

The competition watchdog has been investigating whether telecommunications companies should be forced to provide mobile phone roaming services for all Australians.

The ACCC said the inquiry had been prompted by an increasing number of complaints from rural residents who could not get coverage outside regional centres unless they were Telstra customers.

Some people are forced to run up a hill to receive a text code for banking, or drive way down the road to make mobile phone calls.

Blackspots are dangerous in times of emergencies such as accidents, fires or floods, and create havoc for businesses.

Full Content: The Australian

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