Mr Ken Walliss
Director - Convergence
ACCC
15 June 2004
Dear Mr Walliss,
In response to your email of 28 May 2004, the directors of the Internet
Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) respond as follows:
Internet Interconnection: Clarification of Submission
ISOC-AU maintains that the current interconnection arrangements within
the industry prevent it from operating effectively, but note that WAIX
is an example of an effective interconnection arrangement.
1. Please clarify whether or not the WAIX example can become more
widespread without regulatory intervention?
The WAIX example has two features:
a) it is non-profit and b) it is multilateral.
WAIX was established without regulatory intervention, and grew in size
and effectiveness, partly due to its position of trust within the
industry and because of its minimal cost. Due to historical factors we
consider that a repeat of this development is now impossible without
regulatory intervention.
However there has been development of PIPE Networks as a for-profit
multilateral peering point in a number of Australian cities. Again
this development has been without specific regulatory intervention, but
one could argue that its growth has occurred at a time of strong
regulatory interest.
In general, we would argue that large providers are reluctant to
participate in either model without regulatory intervention, and we
continue to maintain that multilateral peering should be one mechanism
to satisfy the requirements of declaration of interconnection.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Kate Lance
Executive Director ISOC-AU