For nearly a decade, reports on global roaming have shown that roaming rates are excessively high. ACCAN urges the Australian and New Zealand governments to take action to reduce the high prices consumers pay to use their mobile phone while visiting their closest international neighbour.

Summary: Based on an assessment of each option put forward in the Draft Report on Trans-Tasman Roaming, ACCAN recommends that:

  • The Australian and New Zealand governments should take immediate action to reduce roaming costs by implementing price caps with pass through requirements and plan to review the effectiveness of this measure after five years.
  • The Australian and New Zealand governments should take action to ensure the decrease of roaming prices in the long-term by requiring pricing transparency and enhancing regulators’ powers.

We have also suggested an additional measure, the removal of fees to unlock mobile handsets. This will greatly assist Australian and New Zealand consumers access more affordable call, SMS and data services while overseas in any country, not just in the Trans-Tasman market.

Submission to: Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

 

Status:Submitted

Download: ACCAN response to Trans-Tasman Roaming: Draft Report [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 504.93 KB]

Download: ACCAN response to Trans-Tasman Roaming: Draft Report [Word Document - 929 KB]