Extension of declaration expiry date under subsection 152ALA(4) and variation of declaration in accordance with subsection 152AL(3)

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Competition and Consumer Act 2010

 

Extension of declaration expiry date under subsection 152ALA(4) and variation of declaration in accordance with subsection 152AL(3)

 

 

  1.             Pursuant to subsection 152ALA(4) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the Act), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) further extends the expiry date for the Superfast Broadband Access Service (SBAS) declaration which took effect from 29 July 2016 and was extended and varied with effect from 27 July 2021, to 28 July 2030.

Note: The previous expiry date was 28 July 2026.

 

  1.             In accordance with subsection 152AL(3) of the Act and subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, the ACCC varies the SBAS declaration service description by deleting Annexure 1 to the SBAS declaration and replacing it with Annexure 1 to this instrument.
  2.             The extension and variation of the SBAS declaration described in clauses 1 and 2 above take effect on 27 July 2026.

 

DATED: 21 July 2026

Philip Williams Commissioner

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission


Annexure 1

Service description

Superfast Broadband Access Service

The superfast broadband access service (SBAS) is a point-to-point service for the carriage of communications in digital form between a network-network interface and an end-user interface that is a Layer 2 bitstream service and is supplied over a superfast telecommunications network.

This service does not include:

  1.             a service supplied through an access multiplexer located in a multi-unit building in a central business district area or in a node in a central business district area where all end-users of the services supplied or proposed to be supplied through that access multiplexer and any other access multiplexers owned or controlled by the same access provider located in the same multi-unit building or node are business customers, public bodies or charity customers;
  2.            a service supplied other than through an access multiplexer located in a multi-unit building or in a node where the premises of the end-users of the service are in a central business district area and all end-users of the service are business customers, public bodies or charity customers;
  3.          the domestic transmission capacity service defined in the Domestic Transmission Capacity Service Declaration 2024, as that declaration may be varied, extended or replaced from time to time.

Definitions

Unless otherwise defined in this declaration, words or phrases defined in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 or the Telecommunications Act 1997 have the same meaning in this declaration.

access line means a line used to connect the access multiplexer to the end-user interface.

access multiplexer means a device that separates communications carried by means of guided electromagnetic energy to enable an end-user to make use of high data rate services.

business customer means a customer that:

  1.    carries on a business or enterprise from premises, regardless of whether there is any incidental use of the premises for occupation (from time to time) as a place of residence; and
  2.    has an ABN for the business or enterprise.

central business district area means a geographic area with one of the following postcodes:

  1.    Canberra CBD: 2600-2601
  2.    Sydney CBD: 1000-1299; 2000-2009
  3.    Melbourne CBD: 3000-3010; 8000-8010
  4.    Brisbane CBD: 4000-4004
  5.    Adelaide CBD: 5000-5005; 5800-5879
  6.      Hobart CBD: 7000-7003; or
  7.    Perth CBD: 6000-6005; 6800-6899.

charity customer means a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

end-user interface means an interface located at either:

  1.    a physically defined end-user’s premises where the access provider’s network is directly or

indirectly present to an end-user; or

  1.    the jumper cable termination on the customer side of a main distribution frame located in a multi-unit building.

Layer 2 bitstream service has the meaning given by section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

line has the meaning given by section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

multi-unit building has the meaning given by section 142A of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, if a line in a multi-unit building is used to supply a superfast carriage service to an end-user occupying or using a unit in the building:

  1.    the line is taken to be an access line; and
  2.    the line is taken to form part of the infrastructure of a superfast telecommunications network.

The line does not need to be physically connected to a unit in a multi-unit building because, pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, “used” means used in isolation or in conjunction with one or more other things.

NBN corporation has the meaning given in the National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011.

network-network interface means an interface provided by an access provider at a point of interconnection where the access seeker’s telecommunications network can interface to the access provider’s network.

node means a roadside cabinet, pillar, pit or distribution point, but does not include an exchange, that:

  1.    houses the equipment for the supply of services, including access multiplexers, and
  2.    enables the physical connection to the end-user premises using access lines.

point of interconnection is a physical point of interconnection which allows the interconnection of facilities in accordance with subsection 152AR(5) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

public body means:

  1.    the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or
  2.    a municipal authority or other local governing body; or
  3.    a public authority that is constituted by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

superfast carriage service has the meaning given by section 142A of the

Telecommunications Act 1997.

superfast telecommunications network means a telecommunications network, where:

  1.    the network enables end-users to download communications; and
  2.    the network is normally capable of enabling end-users to download communications with a data transfer rate of 25 megabits per second or more; and
  3.    the carriage service is supplied using a line to premises occupied or used by an end-user.

Note: The word “normally” is akin to “usually”; it recognises that circumstances may arise that temporarily displace usual data transfer rates.

telecommunications network has the meaning given by section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

 

 

 

Overview

The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 was enacted to address issues of competition, consumer protection, and fair trading within Australia. The Act was introduced by the Parliament of Australia to provide a framework for regulating business conduct and consumer protection, aiming to promote fair trading and efficient markets. Pursuant to subsection 152ALA(4) of the Act, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has extended the expiry date for the Superfast Broadband Access Service (SBAS) declaration, which was initially effective from 29 July 2016, with a previous extension and variation effective from 27 July 2021. The ACCC has further extended this expiry date to 28 July 2030 and varied the service description by replacing the existing Annexure 1 with a new one, effective from 27 July 2026. These changes are aimed at ensuring that the SBAS continues to meet the needs of the telecommunications market while providing clarity and stability for service providers and consumers alike.

Scope and Application

The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 applies to persons and entities engaging in trade or commerce within Australia, including those offering telecommunications services. The Act's geographic reach is national, as it applies across the Commonwealth of Australia. The legislation aims to ensure fair competition, protect consumers, and prevent anti-competitive conduct. The Superfast Broadband Access Service (SBAS) declaration, which was initially introduced on 29 July 2016 and subsequently extended and varied on 27 July 2021, has now been further extended by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to expire on 28 July 2030. The SBAS declaration outlines the specifications for superfast broadband access services, which are point-to-point services for the carriage of communications in digital form over a superfast telecommunications network. Notably, the declaration excludes certain services supplied through access multiplexers in multi-unit buildings or nodes within central business district areas where all end-users are business customers, public bodies, or charity customers. Additionally, the declaration does not cover domestic transmission capacity services defined in the Domestic Transmission Capacity Service Declaration 2024. The extension and variation of the SBAS declaration, which became effective on 27 July 2026, are authorised under subsections 152ALA(4) and 152AL(3) of the Act, respectively, and are subject to the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this instrument are subsections 152ALA(4) and 152AL(3) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the Act). Pursuant to subsection 152ALA(4), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) extends the expiry date of the Superfast Broadband Access Service (SBAS) declaration from 28 July 2026 to 28 July 2030. Under subsection 152AL(3), the ACCC also varies the SBAS declaration by replacing Annexure 1 with a new service description. These changes take effect on 27 July 2026. The SBAS declaration, which commenced on 29 July 2016, was previously extended and varied with effect from 27 July 2021. The Act imposes obligations on the parties or entities it governs, particularly on the ACCC. The ACCC is required to manage the declaration process and ensure that the SBAS service description accurately reflects the telecommunications services provided. The ACCC must also consider the implications of the declaration on competition and consumer protection in the broadband market. Furthermore, the declaration ensures that the SBAS service is clearly defined, which aids in maintaining transparency and fairness within the market. Breaching the provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 can result in significant consequences. Under the Act, individuals and corporations can face civil penalties for breaches of the Act. The maximum penalty for contravening the Act can be up to $1.1 million for individuals and $5.5 million for corporations, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. Additionally, serious or repeated breaches may result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. These penalties underscore the importance of compliance with the Act and the declaration's terms to avoid legal repercussions.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.