Issue No 29: 23 November 2022

ANU to Map Australia's Telecommunications Resilience

A first-of-its kind project led by The Australian National University (ANU) will holistically map the resilience of Australia's telecommunications sector.  

Funded by the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA), the independent study will be conducted by the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre. 

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said telecommunications underpins every other sector in the Australian economy. 

"Telecommunications drives economic growth, national productivity and innovation and keeps Australians connected to each other and the world," Professor Schmidt said.  

"When telecommunications and digital services go down, Australia and Australians grind to a halt.   
"I'm pleased to announce the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre will lead an independent study into the resilience of the sector. This is an issue of vital importance to the nation and all Australians. 

"As the national university ANU works tirelessly to serve the nation every day -- and this detailed examination of a fundamental sector for Australia is an excellent example of that."  

The ANU-led project will engage stakeholders from across governments, industry, utility providers, emergency services, the risk and disaster management community and academia to develop a comprehensive risk and resilience profile of Australia's telecommunications sector. 

"The 2019-20 bushfires, the pandemic, floods and cyber incidents are just a few examples of recent events that have tested the resilience of the sector," project lead Professor Johanna Weaver, Director of the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre, said.

"In some instances - including during the pandemic - the sector shone. On other occasions, its resilience has been found wanting. There is a lot to learn from each of these events. 

"By studying risks at the sector level, this project will equip future decision makers with the tools to design effective policy that minimises disruption and improves the resilience of this essential infrastructure which Australians depend on every day."  

The project will take an "all-hazards approach", encompassing natural disasters, systemic failures and human-driven disruption. It will also examine positive case studies, such as how the sector kept Australians connected in the face of unprecedented network demand during COVID.   

Deputy Secretary Richard Windeyer said The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is pleased to support this project.  

"The project will provide an independent evidence base to inform future Australian government decisions," he said.    

"It will provide a valuable evidence base to increase the resilience of Australia's telecommunications sector as a whole. It will be an invaluable tool for individual firms to prepare their own risk and resilience plans." 

The project aligns with Infrastructure Australia's 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan and lessons from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements 2020. 

CEO of the communications industry association, Communications Alliance Ltd, John Stanton, said the telco sector was already keenly engaged in the project and welcomed the opportunity it provides to build on existing industry initiatives. 

"Australia's communications networks have stood up well to the unprecedented challenges thrown at them in recent years by natural and malevolent threats," he said. 

"Telco carriers have strengthened key network infrastructure and back-up capabilities and improved coordination with emergency authorities and key stakeholders such as the energy industry.  

"The work being led by ANU experts will, we believe, add value to that vital ongoing mission."  

For more information, or to participate in the study, email techpolicydesign@anu.edu.au.

Comment Sought on Revised C647:2022 nbn Access Transfer Industry Code

Communications Alliance is seeking public comment on a revised nbn Access Transfer Industry Code.

The nbn Access Transfer Code is designed to:

    
1. specify operational principles which will enable the Transfer of an active NBN Service between RSPs;
    
2. establish minimum operational requirements on RSPs, Access Seekers and NBN Co, in the Transfer of an active NBN Service between RSPs;
    
3. minimise Customer impacts during the Transfer of an active NBN Service between RSPs

The revised C647:2022 nbn Access Transfer Industry Code seeks to:

    
• introduce industry wide processes to enable the use of a 15-digit AVC ID in the transfer of Customer services between providers on the NBN;
    
• introduce obligations relating to the display, access and availability of the AVC ID;
    
• provide proposed timeframes for the commencement of clauses relating to the development, display and mandatory use of AVC IDs across industry; and
    
• update Appendix A relating to new Response Codes for SQ, ESQ or Transfer Order requests.

Importantly the working committee which undertook the revision of the Code are actively seeking input from nbn retail service providers on the proposed timeframes for the commencement of the obligations relating to the use of the AVC ID.

Accompanying the nbn Access Transfer Code, a minor variation has been made to the C617:2017 Incorporating Variation No.1 2022 Industry Code. This variation provides clarification and consistency in the use of an AVC ID for service transfers.

Information on the working committee which participated in the Code development, including the Terms of Reference, can be found here.

Further information can be found on the Public Comments webpage.  All submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Friday 13th January 2023.

Submissions received will be made publicly available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Current Consultations

Below is a list of currently open telecommunications-related consultations being conducted by Government and other organisations that provide an opportunity for you to have your say.