The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will continue regulating fixed line services in the country, a statement from the group said.
'The ACCC has decided to continue the regulation of the unconditioned local loop service, PSTN originating and terminating access services and local carriage service for three years from August," ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel, in a statement said. 'It has also decided to formalize the declaration of a wholesale line rental service."
The decisions form part of the ACCC's local services review and strategic review of the regulation of fixed network services.
'The ACCC found that regulated access to the ULLS, PSTN OTA, LCS and WLR would promote competition in a number of downstream markets. The ACCC has concluded that re-declaration of these access services will be in the long-term interest of end-users," Samuel said.
The regulator also said "it intends to maintain a close watch on the competitive influence of infrastructure deployed by Telstra's competitors."