Australian mobile competition 'can be increased' says Vodafone

02/08/2012

Vodafone has said the level of competition in the Australian mobile phone sector can be substantially improved by increasing regulation to restrict Telstra's dominance of the fixed-line market.

Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Vodafone Hutchison Australia chief executive Bill Morrow said fixed and mobile services should not be treated in isolation from each other, as they will both be increasingly offering complementary services through smart devices.

In an interview with the same paper earlier this week, Telstra chief executive David Thodey commented: "The last time I looked . . . the mobile industry was not regulated and long may it continue."

Mr Morrow claimed no other country in the world allows any company to have such a large share of fixed, mobile, cable network and pay TV services as Telstra has in Australia.

Last week, Telstra announced the first rise in fixed line prices in nine years, which will come into force in October.

A company spokesperson claimed the long period of fixed rates means prices have effectively dropped by 19 per cent during this period.

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