The Australian government is consulting with the telecommunications industry to determine the future of the universal service obligation (USO), which guarantees landline phone access to regional Australians. Telstra, the current provider, receives billions in funding from the government and rivals including Optus and TPG. However, there are calls to award the contract to another provider and allocate the $200 million annual funding to more modern communication technologies.
Debate is erupting over the future of the universal service obligation , which guarantees landline phone access to regional Australia ns, with the federal government labelling current arrangements as no longer fit for purpose and Optus saying they are a waste of money.
“As far back as 2015, I said the USO needs to respond to changes brought on by the roll-out of the NBN,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said. “The government has not yet made any decisions on how to modernise the USO, and will be guided by the feedback we receive as part of this important consultation.”
“As identified by the minister, advancement in wireless and satellite technologies in recent years open the possibility of delivering better services for our most remote communities.” TPG also welcomed the review. “We are hopeful it will pave the way for improvements in the delivery of services to regional Australia by removing subsidies for Telstra’s redundant copper network,” a spokesman said.Rural Australia has become a battleground for Australia’s telcos over the past year, with the competition tribunalbetween Telstra and TPG, ruling it would entrench Telstra’s dominance in the bush.
Universal Service Obligation USO Telecommunications Australia Telstra Optus TPG Funding Regional Australians Landline Phone Access Communication Technologies
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