ACCC accepts NBN Co's Special Access Undertaking

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced today that it has accepted NBN Co’s Special Access Undertaking (SAU).

The SAU is a key part of the regulatory framework that will govern the prices NBN Co, as a wholesale open access telecommunications network, can charge for the services it supplies to retail telecommunications companies, as well as other terms.

The ACCC’s decision follows an extensive process of consultation between the ACCC, NBN Co and industry stakeholders in relation to this unprecedented and necessarily lengthy document.

NBN Co’s Head of Regulatory Affairs and Industry Analysis, Caroline Lovell said, NBN Co welcomes the certainty provided by today’s decision.

“Having an accepted SAU in place, establishes a baseline from which future regulatory decisions can be made. It also provides a settled basis for finalising the next set of commercial arrangements with our customers.

While the SAU was developed in the context of previous government policy, NBN Co considers – and the ACCC acknowledges – that the SAU should be flexible enough to be varied to respond to future technology changes that may be required.

“The process has taken some time, but it was important to make sure the SAU delivered a workable approach that would serve the needs of all parties, including consumers, over an extended period.”

“NBN Co also wishes to acknowledge the considerable investment of time and effort made by the ACCC and industry stakeholders in the SAU process,” said Ms Lovell.

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Notes to editors

• NBN Co lodged the varied SAU on 19 November 2013. The ACCC’s accepts NBN Co SAU on 13 December 2013. The SAU will operate until 2040
• ACCC’s announcement accepting NBN Co SAU can be found at www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-accepts-nbn-co-special-access-undertaking
• NBN Co is tasked with fulfilling the Commonwealth’s policy goal of ensuring all Australians have access to very fast broadband as soon, cost-effectively and affordably as possible
• The Terms of Reference and the timing for the Strategic Review were communicated to NBN Co on 3 October 2013
• The Interim Statement of Expectations directs the company to continue to roll out fibre to the premises while the review process is underway. It also gives NBN Co the flexibility to use a wider range of technologies to connect homes and businesses to the National Broadband Network
• For more information, visit nbnco.com.au

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