Better delivery of universal services

The Australian Government has an existing framework in place to provide people across Australia with access to baseline fixed voice and broadband services.

The Universal Service Obligation (USO) is a longstanding safeguard that ensures all Australians are able to access fixed phone services and payphones regardless of where they live or work. As the statutory primary universal provider, Telstra is required to supply fixed voice services and payphones nationally on reasonable request. Telstra provides the majority of USO services over the National Broadband Network (NBN), however it continues to deliver USO services over copper and other networks in regional and remote areas.

Access to fixed broadband is supported by the Statutory Infrastructure Provider (SIP) regime, which provides that NBN Co and other similar providers connect premises to their networks and supply wholesale services that allow retail providers to provide broadband services with peak download and upload speeds of at least 25/5 megabits per second (Mbps).

The Australian Government is examining universal service arrangements in light of changes in available technologies and consumer preferences over recent years. By the end of 2024, more than 97% of Australian premises will have access to high-speed NBN broadband services that can support quality voice services. The deployment of satellites and other technologies also shows promise for providing greater options for voice services in the most remote areas of Australia.

A key principle for Government is that any change to existing arrangements will only be considered if there are tested and proven alternatives to existing technologies and services.

We are initially interested in hearing from stakeholders about the sorts of outcomes that a modern universal service framework should deliver. To provide time for all stakeholders to have their say, there will be further stages of consultation in 2024, including to seek views on the sustainable, long-term funding of services in rural and remote areas.

The discussion paper below provided relevant background and key questions to assist in making a submission or providing feedback.

Further information on universal services reform is available at: Modernising universal telecommunications services.

Summary of stakeholder views

A summary of feedback provided by stakeholders to this consultation is available below. The summary also provides an overview of stakeholder views provided to separate consultation on funding of universal telecommunications services.

Overall, the consultation process demonstrated there is broad support for change to universal service arrangements to better reflect evolving consumer needs and the emergence of new alternative technologies. Many stakeholders suggested a more flexible and technology-neutral approach would be preferable, including to adopt modern networks and services that are best suited to each premises, and to future-proof arrangements.

Further detail on views by stakeholders on specific issues is available in the summary paper.

Relevant documentation

• Better delivery of universal services—discussion paper
• Modernising universal telecommunications services—summary of feedback