The bitter ongoing feud between Cable & Wireless Optus and Telstra has taken another turn, with Optus launching action against Telstra over 1-3, 1300 and 1800 services.
Optus has notified the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission of a dispute with Telstra under the Trade Practices Act following Telstra's alleged refusal to allow consumers to retain 1-3, 1300 or 1800 numbers if they changed carriers.
But Telstra says the move is just a case of commercial sniping and 'spin doctoring' by Optus.
C&W Optus managing director of Data and Business Services Chris Hancock said that before November 30, a business with a 1-3, 1300 or 1800 number provided by Telstra could not switch to Optus and keep the number.
"Since November 30, Telstra has been obligated to give customers the right to choose their carrier and take their number with them.
"On December 1, Telstra refused to port customers to Optus on the grounds that the two carriers did not have a bilateral agreement. This was in clear violation of the rules for porting customers," Mr Hancock said.
"Telstra has never raised a requirement for bilateral agreements during months of industrial negotiation," he said.
But Andrew Maiden of Telstra Regulatory said the claim was just a bit of 'spin doctoring' by Optus.
"It is a requirement of the Telecommunications Act to have a bilateral agreement and it is disingenuous of Optus to suggest it did not know that when earlier this year Optus representatives told industry forums that bilateral agreements were mandatory."
He said it was hard to understand what Optus's complaint was considering that a bilateral agreement had now been signed and Telstra intended to ensure customers could take their numbers with them.
Hancock said Optus had taken action because there were still issues in dispute between Optus and Telstra.
