Telstra, TPG deal could create regional 5G monopoly: Optus – Telco/ISP

Optus has long gone public with its opposition to the proposed infrastructure deal concerning Telstra and TPG.

Beneath the arrangement initially introduced in late February, TPG will decommission extra than 700 of its cell web pages and achieve obtain to 3700 Telstra towers.

Telstra will get accessibility to some TPG towers, and the two will get obtain to some of each other’s 4G and 5G spectrum.

All of which is far too significantly for Optus, which has made a decision to oppose the deal. 

In a assertion to iTnews, Optus VP of regulatory and community affairs Andrew Sheridan mentioned TPG’s intention to “decommission above 700 web sites in locations this kind of as Tamworth, Parkes, Port Macquarie,  Shepparton, Gladstone, Bunbury, Busselton, Port Lincoln and Whyalla” represented the firm “waving the white flag on regional Australia”.

He stated the deal generates the prospect of a regional 5G monopoly that would exacerbate the electronic divide.

“The proposed partnership really should be of significant worry to governing administration, our regulators, and regional communities,” Sheridan explained.

“There is no other field in which a mix of the 1st and 3rd greatest players would be regarded.

“Under the phrases of the offer, Telstra circumvents ordinary levels of competition rules and obtains obtain to remarkably important regional spectrum that will give it an unprecedented and unfair benefit in the changeover to 5G.”

Sheridan extra that minimizing the range of companies in the areas would also make those parts significantly less resilient in serious occasions this sort of as floods.

The ACCC declined to remark on Optus’ placement.

An ACCC spokesperson told iTnews: “The ACCC expects to overview the arrangement between TPG and Telstra, and is awaiting an application from the events.”