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SYDNEY - The Australian Competition Tribunal has overturned a decision by the competition watchdog to scale back regulation requiring Telstra to allow competitors access to its phone network.
In August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted Telstra limited exemptions to obligations to supply line rental service and local call services in 387 metropolitan regions of Australia.
The Australian Competition Tribunal said on Tuesday it would reject the exemptions after reviewing the ACCC's decision.
There is an ongoing need for access to Telstra's network and the ACCC had proposed scaling back regulations enforcing this too soon, the tribunal said.
ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said the tribunal's decision would be accepted.
"The ACCC recognises that this decision was a matter of judgement and understands that there are reasons why the tribunal came to a different conclusion," he said in a statement.
"As with all court and tribunal decisions, the ACCC will review those reasons and consider the implications for the ongoing performance of its regulatory functions."
- AAP