Mandatory domestic roaming to be key focus of mobile coverage inquiry

Domestic roaming and satellites to be key focus of fresh ACCC inquiry into mobile coverage Wed 5 Aug 2026 at 2:23pm In short: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will conduct a 12-month inquiry into regional mobile phone coverage, including domestic roaming and mobile infrastructure. Consumer advocates had been calling for domestic roaming to be mandated, but say this inquiry will take "years we don't have". What's next: The ACCC will release a discussion paper before holding forums in regional and remote parts of Australia. Australia's competition regulator will consider whether it should force telcos to allow all mobile users to use their network if their own is not available, as part of an inquiry into regional mobile coverage. Calls for domestic roaming had been growing amid concerns about a lack of competition particularly in regional areas. In 2024 the Regional Telecommunications Review recommended the federal communications minister direct the ACCC to conduct a fresh inquiry on the issue, after a previous 2017 inquiry found roaming would reduce incentives for telcos to invest in the network. A ministerial directive was never made but the ACCC today announced it would instigate a new inquiry of its own accord. It will also consider if providers should be directed to share the radio access network, which includes infrastructure such as towers and radio equipment. "We have seen that there's a lot of change in the market, that the emergence of the satellite services provides the opportunity for direct to device services to mobile phones," ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said. "There's also a lot of calls for domestic roaming, we have heard those. "What we want to do is work through in a really carefully and consultative way so that we understand all the issues, we understand the needs and that we make decisions and regulatory settings that will serve customers well into the future." The inquiry will take around 12 months and hold forums in regional and remote parts of the country. The ACCC will consider how mobile use is changing, the current state of competition, how regulation could impact investment and competition, and the increasing role of low earth orbit satellites. The Australia Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), a strong proponent of domestic roaming, said the government had all the evidence it needed to mandate now. ACCAN was among several groups including the National Farmers Federation and National Rural Health Alliance that called on the government to intervene and force the issue. "There is a bill before parliament — the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation Bill — which, with simple amendments, would allow the ACCC to declare domestic mobile roaming and get on with the job of implementation," ACCAN chief executive Carol Bennett said in a statement. "For consumers, a reliable mobile connection means being able to stay in contact with family, friends, clients and emergency services. "A lengthy review risks delaying these benefits by years we don't have." Federal Minister for Communications Anika Wells was not available for an interview but in a statement said the inquiry was "timely". "The work the ACCC is doing will complement and inform the implementation of the Albanese government's Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO), which will require Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide reasonable outdoor access to SMS and voice calls throughout Australia," she said. 'Dragging the chain' Kristy Sparrow from volunteer advocacy group Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia welcomed the inquiry given it would look at all wholesale services. "We would also be encouraging them to look at coverage maps and adopt national maps similar to what is seen in other countries like America, Europe and New Zealand," she said In regards to domestic roaming, Ms Sparrow said consideration needed to be given to existing congestion on towers in some rural areas. "We encourage that if there is a decision on mandatory roaming that it comes with appropriate resilience and capacity investments." She also warned roaming would not increase the coverage footprint, only competition, and that Australia was still "dragging the chain" on access more broadly. "Whatever the decision is it mustn't stop investment in terrestrial coverage particularly in the regions. "(Roaming is) part of a solution but what's needed is a long-term strategy and plan and leadership in the space."