Optus resisting Telstra attempts for regulatory relief on 20 regional transmission routes

Optus says in a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that Telstra’s claims of competition don’t stack up on 14 of the 20 routes. Telstra had earlier used infrastructure data from researcher Market Clarity to support its claim of between three and five fibre competitors within a 5 per cent radial distance of the 20 routes currently subject to regulation—primarily routes connecting Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane to regional destinations such as Wagga, Townville and Wangaratta.

However, Optus rejects the 5 per cent methodology employed by Telstra and also claims that its own research casts doubts on the claims of competition.

“Optus has conducted its own analysis to identify the carriers providing a transmission capacity service along the listed routes. Optus surmises (since Telstra has not provided this information) that these are the providers most likely to have been counted by Market Clarity in its count of the providers on each route listed for exemption.”

“Optus finds it puzzling that Market Clarity and/or Telstra have not provided a similar level of detail listing the carriers that it believes are providing a competitive (service) for each listed route.