Synopsis

On the first of July 2002 the industry ‘celebrated’ the fifth anniversary of the deregulation of the Australian telecommunications market. Many new service providers operate in the market in 2002, and many call prices have fallen since 1997. Usage has also increased considerable, suggesting that the market forces of demand and supply have met satisfactorily. However, this report takes a more critical review of the industry, including the regulatory environment and the market operators, suggesting that much can still be done. A range of converging sub-sectors are also addressed, including the local loop, broadband, cable TV, digital TV, investments, and of course competition.