The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued a final report which varies the Domestic Transmission Capacity Service (DTCS) Declaration to clarify which network interfaces are covered by that declaration.

The DTCS provides connectivity for both fixed and wireless access networks, upstream services such as internet connectivity and interconnection between networks. It is also a key input to delivering services to regional areas. Ethernet interface protocols are widely used in the Australian telecommunications network.

The ACCC has varied the DTCS service description to clarify that Ethernet network interfaces, and any other commonly used network interface used in the delivery of transmission services, are covered by the declaration. The ACCC is of the view that the revised service description is appropriately technologically neutral and that the declaration reflects evolving industry practices.

This ensures that access seekers will continue to have access to the underlying transmission infrastructure, in areas where there is limited competition, irrespective of the technology used in the delivery of the service.

The release of the final report follows an extensive public consultation process which began in November 2009 and which included the release of a draft of the declaration variation in July 2010. A number of stakeholders and other interested parties were engaged in this process.