Aussie Broadband welcomes certainty around NBN pricing with ACCC decision

Media Release | Tuesday 17 Oct 2023 | 1 min read

Aussie Broadband today welcomes the news that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has formally accepted NBN Co’s latest revision to the Special Access Undertaking (SAU), which determines the wholesale pricing and conditions around access to the National Broadband Network. 

The NBN SAU process has been running for two years, with many industry roundtables, submissions and arguments from regulators, RSPs, ministers and stakeholders. Throughout that time, Aussie Broadband has consistently argued for the removal of variable access rate charges, or connectivity virtual circuit (CVC), on NBN plans. These charges have added uncertainty to internet pricing, with the amount charged for connections varying greatly depending on users’ collective usage each month.  

With the latest terms accepted by the ACCC, the removal of CVC charges will result in higher tier NBN plans becoming more affordable. We believe this is essential for how Australians use the internet today – not just into the future – and it will make it easier for households to access NBN speeds that match Australians' increased appetite for content.   

“We are thankful that the ACCC has agreed to the latest revisions of the SAU, bringing two years of discussions and negotiations to an end,” Aussie Broadband Managing Director Phillip Britt said. “The move to AVC-only pricing for NBN 100 and higher plans will make faster broadband more accessible to more Australians.”  

As a result of the ACCC’s acceptance, NBN Co’s new wholesale pricing will come into effect later this year. Aussie Broadband customers will be informed of the precise changes to their individual plans on October 20, with the changes to come into effect on November 21.  

Should users require more information about upcoming changes to their connection, we would encourage users to call 1300 880 905 to discuss their NBN plan with our customer service team. 

All information contained in this media release, including references to costs, speed, and capability of the Aussie Broadband network, was correct at time of publication, and may have since changed.