Vodafone told to cut mobile termination charge

Stuart Corner
Sunday, 30 October 2005 13:43

IT Policy - Regulation

The ACCC has published interim determinations in five disputes by other mobile carriers with Vodafone's charges for terminating calls on its mobile network.

In all of the determinations, the ACCC has set an interim price of 18 cents per minute from the date of the interim determination to 31 December 21005 and 15 cents per minute from 1 January 2006 to a date 12 months from the date of the interim determination. These are lower than the prices Vodafone was charging. For example, it was charging Primus 19.38 Primus, cents per minute prior to the determination and, until 31 December 2004, charging Hutchison 21 cents per minute.

The access seekers in the five disputes are: AAPT; Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd (representing the Hutchison CDMA network); Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd; PowerTel Ltd and Primus Telecommunications Pty Ltd.

The interim determinations were made in July and August of this year, but have only now been made public. They will remain in effect for 12 months or until a final determination comes into effect or until revoked.

The ACCC says it consulted with the parties regarding publication of the interim determinations. "The ACCC has considered the parties' submissions and, except for information considered commercial-in-confidence, the interim determinations and statements of reasons are published in full."