Peak communications consumer body ACCAN has welcomed the Senate’s passage of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2026 (UOMO Bill), but with reservations.
ACCAN says the Government and Coalition have missed the chance to deliver more immediate protections on compensation, reliability and performance standards, and domestic mobile roaming.
The Senate passed the Bill with Coalition amendments, while Greens and Jacqui Lambie Network amendments were voted down. Consumers are not expected to see its benefits until December 2027 at the earliest.
“The UOMO Bill is a fundamentally vital connectivity safety net that will help Australians share the benefits of cutting-edge satellite technology,” ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett said. “But make no mistake – there are many missed opportunities here.”
“The Government and Coalition had the chance to support amendments that would have made a real difference to consumer compensation, reliability standards and domestic mobile roaming.”
“Until roaming and enforceable reliability standards are in place, Australians have no guarantee they can connect when it matters most. And without rules around compensation for outages and loss of service, we are again relying on telco good-will.”
“There is nothing new for consumers, nothing changes right now. What has to start now is real and meaningful reliability standards that can be implemented as soon as the ACCC concludes its inquiry in 12 months time.”
ACCAN research found 94 per cent of Australians with a firm view support minimum reliability requirements and domestic mobile roaming.
ACCAN has also welcomed a second telco bill to pass through the Senate, the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025 (TECS Bill), which represents a major win for telecommunications consumers that ACCAN and the more than 20 consumer organisations of the Fair Call Coalition have long called for.
The new safeguard laws increase maximum penalties for breaches of industry codes and standards from $250,000 to $10 million. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) can now take direct enforcement action when a telco breaches an industry code, where it previously had to issue a direction to comply first. A new Carriage Service Provider registration scheme will allow the regulator to stop dodgy operators.
“These reforms better align telecommunications with other essential services like energy by strengthening enforcement, lifting penalties and making industry codes enforceable,” Ms Bennett said.
Telecommunications is the least trusted sector in the Australian economy, according to Roy Morgan.
“We are facing a crisis of confidence in this sector. These new penalties and powers will promote accountability, transparency and compliance across the sector and hopefully help rebuild trust.”
“Of course, new powers are only as good as the regulator who wields them, and we expect the ACMA to act quickly and transparently when providers fall short. Consumers need and deserve protection from exploitation and harm.”
ACCAN looks forward to working with policymakers, regulators, industry and community organisations to ensure the effective implementation of the TECS reforms. Advocacy to see comprehensive reliability standards and to lock in domestic mobile roaming, will continue.
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