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Mobile roaming

Domestic roaming

Mobile roaming is where a mobile network operator's customers are able to make calls using base stations owned by other operators. Roaming is only technically possible over the same type of network, for example, GSM networks.

In order for this to occur, the mobile phone operators must make a roaming agreement. Some roaming agreements exist within Australia. These are generally between companies operating smaller networks who wish to give their customers access to mobile services over a much larger area. Whether or not companies enter into these agreements is entirely a commercial matter.

The ACCC announced a review of mobile services under the telecommunications access regime in March 2003. In June 2004 the ACCC released a final report relating to the mobile terminating access service and made a declaration for this service on 30 June 2004. The declaration requires carriers to provide the mobile service to other operators at an indicative price currently determined at nine cents per minute.

International roaming

KPMG was engaged to investigate international roaming charges, including the differences between prices paid by Australian consumers and consumers in other countries. The report found that Australians pay more while roaming overseas on average than consumers from countries in Asia and North America roaming in Australia. The reverse was true for Europe, although the roaming rates there are higher than elsewhere on average.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications announced a Parliamentary Inquiry on 19 June 2008 into international mobile roaming charges. Hearings took place in September, November and December 2008. The report was tabled on 19 March 2009. Further information is available on the External siteInquiry's website.

Information for consumers about international mobile roaming is available on a fact sheet from the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Information about roaming while overseas can be obtained from

And these service providers:

  • Document ID: 7240 |
  • Last modified: 13 May 2009, 4:07pm