SYDNEY: Australia’s competition regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), announced on Monday that it has launched an inquiry into the proposed A$5.25 billion ($3.39 billion) acquisition of TPG Telecom’s enterprise, government, and wholesale (EG&W) fixed business and fibre network assets by Vocus, a telecommunications company backed by Macquarie.
The ACCC is seeking feedback from stakeholders to assess the potential impact of the deal on service prices and quality in areas such as fixed-line voice services, data networks, and connectivity. The review aims to determine whether the merger could harm competition in the Australian telecom sector.
TPG Telecom, which announced the deal in October, confirmed that the company would retain ownership of its mobile, fixed retail, and wireless services, while Vocus would take control of its fibre and fixed-line infrastructure.
Interested parties have been invited to submit their views to the ACCC by December 2, with the competition body expected to release its findings on February 13, 2025.
In a statement to Reuters, TPG Telecom expressed its commitment to working with both the ACCC and Vocus to ensure a smooth and timely review process. Vocus has yet to comment on the review.