Vodafone alleges rival Telstra has 'misled' customers about mobile coverage

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Vodafone has called on the ACCC to investigate Telstra for "inflating" its mobile network coverage. Telstra has admitted it changed its website after being contacted by Vodafone owner TPG but denies it has misled customers.

Transcript

00:00Vodafone is accusing Telstra of overstating its mobile network coverage, saying the major

00:08carrier overinflated its reach for around 15 years by advertising that it stretched

00:15some 3 million square kilometres, or 99.7 per cent of the country, but that it failed

00:22to clarify that figure included some consumers having to use an external antenna.

00:29Now Telstra admits that it did change its website to include this clarification after being

00:34contacted by Vodafone last month, but it says that in no way suggests any wrongdoing and

00:41it says that it denies allegations that it misled consumers.

00:45The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says it will consider these allegations and

00:51we've already heard a little bit of reaction including from the Australian Farmers Federation.

00:56It says that customers deserve to have accurate information about mobile network coverage,

01:02and that the telco's marketing spin really does cause farmers to lose faith in Telstra.

01:09We've also heard from the major peak advocacy group for consumers when it comes to telecommunications,

01:15ACAN, and it says that it wants the ACCC to investigate these allegations.

01:21It says that claims of deceptive and misleading conduct are very serious, and if it's shown

01:27to have restricted competition, then that means increased prices for all consumers.

01:33Thank you, everyone.

01:35Thank you, everyone.

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