Australia's telecommunications operate along well established networks which are continually changing and adapting to leading edge technology. Traditional telephony services including land-based, mobile and facsimile are mature, yet are evolving as the country upgrades networks, technology, and services.
Telephone
Australia has one of the highest per-capita use of telephony services in the world. As of late 1994, there were 8.85 million fixed telephone services and 1.4 million cellular mobile phones in operation in Australia. (ITU) Their telephone network reaches about 95% of all households. Advanced telephone features are widely available, on-line information services (i.e., the Internet) are being quickly adopted and new broadcast services such as digital radio are being introduced.
In addition, there are three mobile telephone networks. The first personal communication service (PCS) was released by Global Teleworks Limited earlier this year offering customers one single telephone number for all their communication needs.
Core Network
The core network is currently in a state of major transition, but is relatively advanced by world standards. It links Telstra, Optus and international gateway exchanges; and provides all of the trunk transmission, switching and other network capabilities.
Telstra's trunk transmission network is largely based on optic fiber bearers. In metropolitan areas, coverage by optic fiber is extensive in essentially all metropolitan areas. However, in some remote areas, the trunk bearers are provided by radio communications links such as microwave transmission. In addition, Australia has submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua Guinea, and Indonesia.
Australia plans to provide access to broadband cable services to most of Australia's households in metropolitan and major regional centers, and many major commercial sites by 2000. Significant investment in a hybrid optic fiber coaxial cable is currently underway which is expected to build an international standard broadband infrastructure.
Over the next five years, Telstra plans to invest $3.9 million building and developing services to run on a national digital broadband network providing access to four million homes by 1999. Optus, on the other hand, plans to invest $3 billion, delivering services by 1998.
The digitalization of this network will support the introduction of high speed data transfer through integrated services digital network (ISDN) services. The government is projecting Australia will have full national ISDN capability by 2000.
Satellites
At present, the major satellite infrastructure consists of both domestic satellite service and several satellite earth stations. These include 10 INTELSAT (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean earth) and 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions). The Inmarsat is an internationally owned satellite communications collective. In April 1997, Telstra launched another satellite system, Iterra Distital, which uses a fixed or transportable dish, up to 6.4 m in diameter, to provide multiple telephone lines to remote areas through the PANAMSAT satellite.
Domestic Telecommunication Players
Presently, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are the three main telecommunications carriers. Telestra is the government-owned corporation offering land-based, mobile and satellite services throughout Australia. Optus operates a digital mobile network in most major Australian cities, and provides STD and ISD via the Aussat satellite. Finally, Vodafone operates a limited digital mobile network in major cities.
As Australian telecommunications opens to more competition after June 30, 1997, the entry of additional carriers is expected. However, with Australia's limited population of just over 18 million and its vast geographical area, new entrants must justify their market entry. In addition, limitations on foreign ownership will still apply and therefore, deter or substantially decrease the number of international entrants.
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URL: http://www.http://gurukul.ucc.american.edu/initeb/lk0767a/australi.htm
Author: Linda Kallmeyer
Last Update: May 6, 1997