SIP rules and obligations

NBN Co is the default SIP for Australia, except in areas where other carriers or certain CSPs are the SIPs.

Notifying the ACMA about new and completed telco project areas

Carriers and CSPs that will be the SIPs for new developments and redevelopment projects must give the ACMA an anticipatory notice at the start of a project and a declaration that the area is now a nominated service area at completion.

This enables SIP details and their service areas to be included on a public SIP register and SIP map, which are maintained by the ACMA.

Find out timeframes and process for notifying the ACMA about new and completed project areas.

Connecting and supplying services

On reasonable request by a CSP, a SIP must:

1. connect premises to a qualifying telecommunications network
2. supply an eligible service to the CSP so that it can supply a carriage service to customers in the service area.

CSPs are responsible for arranging to connect and supply services on behalf of their customers.

Sometimes it may not be reasonable for the SIP to connect premises to a fixed-line network. In this case, the SIP must provide fixed-wireless or satellite technology that meets or exceeds the minimum prescribed upload and download speeds.

Meeting minimum broadband speeds

The services supplied by SIPs must allow CSPs to provide broadband services with peak speeds of at least:

• 25 Mbps for downloads
• 5 Mbps for uploads.  

These baseline speeds apply across all network technologies. The government has additional speed and coverage targets for NBN Co.

Providing voice services

For fixed-line and fixed wireless networks, the services supplied by SIPs must allow CSPs to provide consumers with the ability to make and receive voice calls. However, in areas where a SIP only supplies satellite technology, voice services may be available from other carriers. 

Publishing declarations and terms and conditions

SIPs must publish on their websites: 

• any declarations they make
• their terms and conditions for providing wholesale services to CSPs.

Terms and conditions must include:

• the price (or a way to calculate the price) of connecting and supplying services
• the maximum period to connect and supply services
• the maximum period for repairing a fault or service problem
• any other relevant terms and conditions.

Notifying government and customers if SIP obligations can’t be met

A SIP must notify the ACMA, the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department), and its customers if it becomes aware that it can no longer meet its obligations to connect premises and provide services to a service area.

If an alternative SIP is identified for the service area, the notification must be given at least 90 days before the SIP can no longer meet its obligations, or in any other case, no later than 10 business days after the new SIP takes over. 

However, if an alternative SIP is not identified, the notification must be given at least 12 months before the SIP can no longer meet its obligations, or in any other case, no later than 10 business days after the SIP ceases to operate.

Email us at sip@acma.gov.au if you have any questions or need help.

In some circumstances, the obligation to connect premises and/or supply eligible services does not apply.

From 1 July 2024, CSPs that meet the criteria below will be SIPs for their service areas and must follow the SIP rules.

Criteria

A CSP will be the SIP for an area if it meets any of the following criteria

1. it has control of a telecommunications facility, or
2. it is an associate of a person who has control of a telecommunications facility, or
3. it has entered into a contract with a person responsible for a real estate development or redevelopment project to provide services to the area

and all 4 of the following conditions are met:

• The facility was, is being or will be, installed in or in proximity to a real estate development or building redevelopment project area; and
• The facility is not part of the infrastructure of a telecommunications network; and
• The project area does not consist of or is not included in an existing nominated service area; and
• If the CSP were to use the facility to supply carriage services to end-users at premises in the project area, or to supply eligible services to another CSP so that the CSP can provide carriage services to end-users, it would be required to declare the project area to be a provisional nominated service area.

Refer to sections 360HB and 360HC of the Telecommunications Act 1997 for more information.