ACCC finalises prices for terminating calls, SMS

For the first time the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has decided on a price for mobile network operators to charge for receiving SMS messages, today setting a price of 0.03 cents per SMS.

The decision on the rate for receiving SMSs maintains the rate proposed in the ACCC’s draft decision in May and is based on the network capacity and equipment used to carry SMS messages on Australian networks.

As well as setting a price on receipt of SMS messages for the first time, the ACCC today released its final decision on the wholesale price that mobile network operators should charge each other and fixed-line network operators for receiving calls on their mobile network – confirming the rate at 1.7 cents per minute, reduced from the current rate of 3.6 cents per minute.

“The ACCC does not regulate retail charges, either for mobile calls or SMS,  but expects these savings from these two decisions will be passed onto consumers either by way of lower charges or through improved call and SMS inclusions in retail plans,” ACCC Commissioner Cristina Cifuentes said.