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This week
IN THE NEWS: ACCANect 2022 Earlybird Registrations will close on the 31st of August, what the TCP Code means for consumers, and more.
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Earlybird Registrations to ACCAN’s Annual Conference – ACCANect 2022, will close on the 31st of August. This year’s theme is Better Basics. We’ll be chatting to key representatives from organisations including the ACMA, TPG Telecom, Consumer Action Law Centre, Telstra and Commpete about what ‘the basics’ look like for communications consumers in 2022. Register now to avoid missing out on earlybird rates via our conference website. Students, individuals and community organisations may be eligible for complimentary registrations. Check the  eligbility criteria64.67 KB, or email events@accan.org.au. [ACCAN]
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The Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code is an industry code that sets out rules and benchmarks for how telcos must deal with their customers. It protects customers who use mobile phone, landline and internet services, including the NBN. In a panel discussion at ACCANect 2022, Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Counselling Australia, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network, and NSW Farmers will provide their thoughts to ACCAN's CEO Andrew Williams on what needs to be included in the TCP Code review to make the communications market fairer for all consumers. Register for the session via our conference website. [ACCAN]
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NBN Co will support this year’s DIF Hubs Lunch n Learn series as part of the Victorian Government Digital Innovations Festival, which starts on the 25th of August, and runs until the 7th of September. Free sessions about scam awareness, optimising your internet and staying safe online will be offered as part of the festival. All sessions will take place via zoom. [NBN Co]
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Telstra is making Wi-Fi free at selected payphones across the country, to give more Australians access to free internet – whether they’re in a vulnerable situation and need access to help, or connecting with family and loved ones during natural disasters. A recent survey by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) found that 60 percent of respondents agree that free public Wi-Fi is important to them, however, only 36 percent are using free public Wi-Fi near where they live, and a further 31 percent do not even know where they can access it. [Glam Adelaide]
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Smaller broadband providers increased their market share in the NBN wholesale market in the June quarter 2022, and a record number of telcos now have their networks connected to the NBN at all of the available physical locations, the ACCC’s latest NBN Wholesale Market Indicators Report reveals. The report looks at the wholesale market for NBN services, particularly the residential broadband services that retailers buy from NBN to sell to consumers. [ACCC]
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Scamwatch is urging the public to be wary of phone messages from a family member or friend claiming they need help, following a significant rise in “Hi Mum” scams in recent months. More than 1,150 Australians fell victim to the so-called “Hi Mum” scam in the first seven months of this year, with total reported losses of $2.6 million. The vast majority of these scams were reported in June and July 2022. [ACCC]
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Australians can now check the levels of electromagnetic energy (EME) being emitted from a selection of mobile base stations in Victoria and New South Wales, with the ACMA’s new online EME Checker. The new tool uses data from measurements completed by the ACMA at these base stations during 2021 and 2022. [ACMA]
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Telecommunications company Optus has switched on a new network tower in Main Arm (Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales) as part of the NSW Government’s $50 million Connecting Country Communities Fund, providing communities a much-needed coverage boost. Optus' tower is located roughly 600 metres from Durrumbul Hall, Main Arm. It will cover 36 square kilometres in surface area and 17 kilometres in length of major roads. [iTWire]
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The federal government should reconsider the way it pumps money into NBN upgrades, mobile towers and other communications infrastructure, because the benefits of these injections aren’t transparent, the Productivity Commission has said. In an interim report on digital technology released overnight, the commission criticised what it saw as a “lack of transparency” around how investments are made in digital infrastructure by the government “and which priorities are pursued.” [iTNews]
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The federal government ought to place a greater focus on “community awareness” in the fight against ransomware as the risk of attack continues to escalate, according to outgoing Telstra chief Andy Penn. But Mr Penn, who chairs the government’s telco-heavy Industry Advisory Committee on Cyber Security, has stopped short of recommending legislation, despite urging the former government adopt a “clear policy position”. [InnovationAus]
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Although we take care to direct subscribers to sites with accurate and reliable content, we advise that ACCAN is not responsible for the content within external sites and has no control over the views, services or information contained therein. Information contained on external sites may not necessarily reflect ACCAN's policy, standards or beliefs.
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network's representation of residential and other consumers' interests in relation to telecommunications issues is made possible by funding provided by the Commonwealth of Australia under section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. This funding is recovered from charges on telecommunications carriers.
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