Commpete argues the timing is right to fundamentally change the digital future of regional Australia as this is a highly underserved area. The alliance supports Australian Government funding initiatives which focus on rural, regional and remote as a priority and has sent out its recommendations to the Independent Committee for the 2021 Federal Regional Review. 

Michelle Lim, Chair of Commpete said: “The digital gap between metropolitan centres and rural, regional and remote Australia is simply too large. In our view, success in the future of regulation in the telecommunications sector should be measured by the extent to which it supports the ability of all market participants to deliver value, flexibility and choice for consumers and businesses, including regional and remote constituents. We believe it is fair for all Australians to expect real competition, particularly in cases where the underlying infrastructure has been built and paid for with taxpayer funds.”

Commpete has submitted a paper to the Federal Government 2021 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee chaired by Hon Luke Hartsuyker highlighting the key priority areas for policy reforms, which are:

1) improved wholesale access options
2) refinements to existing Government funding initiatives
3) increased support for neutral host infrastructure models
4) reforms to spectrum allocation