Australia: Vodafone, unhappy with rival, calls ACCC inept

Telecommunications operator Vodafone is reportedly calling for a new government competition watchdog to oversee Australia’s telco sector after slamming the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for its inability to adequately regulate the industry.

According to reports, Vodafone submitted comment to the Competition Policy Review calling for the creation of a new telco regulator and criticizing the ACCC for being unable to address competition issues in the industry, saying its top rival Telstra has benefitted from the ACCC’s lack of power over telcos.

Number-two operator Vodafone said the competition regulator should have a “more flexible range of powers” to be able to address competition issues, and suggested in its filing that a new industry authority should be created by merging the National Competition Council with the Productivity Commission.

Reports say Vodafone also suggested that the Australia model its policies after the EU and focus on telco competitors with significant market power.

Reports say the competition review has not made public any possible submissions made by the ACCC. But in a speech given Monday, ACCC head Rod Sims said the nation must boost innovation and proposed possible market inquiries to better regulate specific industries.

Full content: Computer World

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