The environment for Optus’ objections to the Telstra-TPG multi-operator carrier network (MOCN) arrangement has changed as a result of the Turnbull government’s decision to prohibit Huawei technology from Australian 5G networks.
The ACCC is currently investigating the agreement, and Optus has filed four newly released papers in response. Last month, the competition regulator requested advice on any other alternatives TPG might have besides working with Telstra.
The concerned submissions were made by the CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, the director of spectrum strategy and management Steven Turner, the chief operating officer for enterprise and business and the MD for wholesale and strategy Benjamin White [pdf], and the networks vice president Kanagaratnam Lambotharan.
According to Optus, Telstra is currently at a competitive disadvantage that would only get worse if the Telstra-TPG merger goes through because Telstra had not yet integrated Huawei equipment into its 4G network when the ban went into effect whereas Optus did.
According to Bayer Rosmarin’s contribution, converting an Optus site to 5G will cost more money and take longer than upgrading a Telstra site since Optus locations now use 4G Huawei equipment that needs to be replaced, whereas Telstra did not.
Huawei has argued that the difference between the core and the edge will persist when the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security requested submissions regarding the TSSR.
“The Turnbull government relied on the erroneous network architecture and technological advice to prohibit Huawei (and other Chinese vendors) from 5G,” it stated in its submission.
The core and non-core [RAN] components of the new 5G networks could not be separated, according to the government’s security recommendations, according to Huawei.
In 5G networks all around the world, where Huawei provides the RAN but another vendor provides the core, the gap is evidently present.
