NT mobile coverage angst to continue

IMPROVING consumer coverage through domestic roaming in remote places such as the Territory does not have the support of Telstra or the competition watchdog — frustrating efforts by Vodafone, its chief executive officer said

IMPROVING consumer coverage through domestic roaming in remote places such as the Territory does not have the support of Telstra or the competition watchdog — frustrating efforts by Vodafone, its chief executive officer said.

Iñaki Berroeta, who has been in Darwin with Vodafone senior executives this week, said domestic roaming operates off the same principle as international roaming.

“It would apply in those areas where there is only a single provider,” he said.

“So if an Optus or a Vodafone customer goes into an area where there is only a Telstra network then they will still be able to use their phone on a Telstra network and Telstra would be paid by Vodafone or Optus for that usage.

“Domestic roaming is used in New Zealand, Canada, the US, Spain and most of Europe.” The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission investigated it last year. Last month they issued a “draft decision” saying it would not “declare a wholesale domestic mobile roaming service.”

Mr Berroeta said the ACCC had been influenced by the scare campaign run by Telstra.

“To say domestic roaming will remove investments is not what has happened in any other country where it has been introduced,” he said.

“My view is the only thing that doesn’t promote investments is monopolies.

“We believe it is fair because most of the regional infrastructure being built today is being done with taxpayer money.

“If taxpayer money is doing this infrastructure then it should be used by everyone not just one single supplier. “

A Telstra spokesman said it was not just them who were opposed to domestic roaming.

“The ACCC’s draft decision was welcomed by many individuals, regional organisations and community leaders across regional Australia,” he said. “Optus also welcomed the draft decision and recently announced significant new investment into their regional mobile network as a result.

“The ACCC itself said that the majority of views they received from farmer and other stakeholder groups during the inquiry were not in favour of declaring domestic roaming.

“We recognise that more needs to be done to deliver wider and better coverage for rural and regional Australia. While roaming declaration is not the solution, the industry as a whole need to do more — and clearly what is required is more investment. There is nothing stopping Vodafone investing to provide greater coverage in the Northern Territory right now.”

Mr Berroeta said Vodafone had added 10 new towers and upgraded 35 to 4G in the last 12 months.