ACCC Wants Your Views on Mobile Coverage: Why Amateur Radio Experience Matters
Date :
20 /
10 /
2026
Author :
ACCC & WIA
Australian radio amateurs, particularly those operating in regional and remote areas, have an opportunity to contribute to a national inquiry into mobile phone coverage, network reliability and consumer choice.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is seeking public feedback as part of its 2026–27 Mobile Services Inquiry, examining whether changes to wholesale mobile network access could improve competition, coverage and service quality across Australia.
As reported by Critical Comms on 16 October 2026, the inquiry is particularly interested in the experiences of people living, working and travelling in regional and remote Australia, where mobile blackspots, unreliable services and limited provider choice remain significant concerns.
What Is the ACCC Considering?
The ACCC is examining two potential regulatory arrangements:
Domestic mobile roaming: Allowing customers of one mobile provider to use another provider's network in areas covered by a regulatory declaration.
Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing: Allowing mobile providers to use another operator's radio infrastructure to deliver services to their customers.
The ACCC has not decided whether either arrangement should be introduced. It is gathering evidence from consumers, businesses, industry organisations and community groups before determining whether regulatory intervention would improve outcomes.
Importantly, domestic roaming would not automatically eliminate mobile blackspots or prevent network outages. Where no mobile network exists, roaming cannot create coverage.
Why Is This Relevant to Amateur Radio?
Australian radio amateurs have considerable practical experience operating communications equipment in locations where conventional mobile coverage can be unreliable or unavailable.
Whether participating in Summits on the Air (SOTA), Parks on the Air (POTA), field days, contests, emergency communications exercises or simply travelling through regional Australia, amateurs regularly encounter the limitations of mobile telecommunications infrastructure.
Many also understand the technical challenges of radio coverage, antenna placement, propagation, terrain shielding, interference and network resilience.
This makes amateur radio operators particularly well placed to provide practical observations about mobile coverage and reliability.
For those involved in WICEN and other emergency communications activities, the inquiry also raises important questions about communications resilience during natural disasters and infrastructure failures.
Mobile phones are essential everyday communications tools, but their operation depends on functioning network infrastructure, power supplies and backhaul connections.
Amateur radio can provide a valuable supplementary communications capability when conventional systems are unavailable, particularly where operators have independent power supplies and the ability to establish communications without relying on commercial networks.
The ACCC inquiry is not specifically about amateur radio or emergency communications. Nevertheless, the experience of radio amateurs may help inform its understanding of mobile network coverage, service quality and consumer needs.
An Opportunity to Contribute
The ACCC is inviting feedback from individuals and organisations throughout Australia.
Radio amateurs and affiliated clubs may wish to highlight their experiences with:
Mobile coverage gaps encountered during portable and remote operations.
Differences in coverage between telecommunications providers.
Network reliability during severe weather, emergencies and power outages.
The practical consequences of unreliable mobile communications for regional communities.
The importance of maintaining alternative communications capabilities.
Submissions based on actual operating experiences, specific locations and documented coverage problems are likely to be particularly useful.
Important Dates
Thursday 26 November 2026, 5:00 pm AEDT: Closing date for written submissions responding to the ACCC discussion paper.
Thursday 10 December 2026, 5:00 pm AEDT: Closing date for the online consumer survey.
The ACCC is also considering opportunities to consult directly with regional and remote communities.
Have Your Say
For amateur radio operators, this is an opportunity to contribute practical experience to a national discussion about communications coverage, reliability and resilience.
The WIA encourages Australian radio amateurs and affiliated clubs with relevant experiences to consider participating in the consultation.
Reliable communications matter, and amateur radio operators understand better than most that having a signal on a coverage map is not always the same as having a dependable communications service.
Further Information and Sources
Critical Comms: ACCC Seeking Views on Mobile Coverage and Services (16 October 2026)
Link
ACCC Mobile Services Inquiry: Discussion Paper and Submission Information
Link
ACCC Online Consumer Survey
Link
ACCC Media Release (15 October 2026)
Link
Wireless Institute of Australia
Link
Source acknowledgement: Based on reporting by Critical Comms, published 16 October 2026, and information published by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The discussion of amateur radio, portable operations and emergency communications is additional commentary on the inquiry's relevance to the amateur radio community.
Page Last Updated: Monday, 19 Oct 2026 at 20:57 hours by Justin Giles-clark
Click Here To Return To Previous Page
|
