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Carrier licences FAQs
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Industry Development Plans
Issue
Industry Development Plans are a requirement of carriers prior to obtaining a carrier licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an Industry Development Plan?
2. What are the exemptions?
3. Where can I get further details?
1. What is an Industry Development Plan?
Carriers must have an Industry Development Plan (IDP) approved by the Minister or an exemption from the requirement for an IDP prior to obtaining a carrier licence.
An IDP is a plan formulated by a carrier which contains details of its:
- strategic commercial relationships
- research and development activities
- export development plans
- employment opportunities and training.
The goal of the IDP arrangements is to assist the development of the Australian telecommunications industry by encouraging carriers to undertake activities which contribute to the growth of the industry, while recognising that the carriers’ actions must remain fundamentally strategic and commercial in nature.
As part of their licensing arrangements, carriers are required to provide an annual report on the progress made on its implementation of the IDP submitted in the previous year.
The Australian Communications Authority can issue an exemption certificate for an IDP. Examples of how a carrier can qualify for an exemption include: if its revenues are below $5 million or if it provides services predominantly in the education sector.
Grounds for exemptions are described in full on the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts’ website here.
3. Where can I get further details?
Further information on IDPs can be found on the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts’ website at Telecommunications Carrier Industry Development Plan Guidelines.
- Document ID: 6084 |
- Last modified: 6 February 2008, 1:30pm