Telco industry CEOs join Board of the Australian Telecommunications Alliance

The CEOs of the telecommunications industry will be appointed as Board Directors of the Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA), following a unanimous vote of support at today’s Annual General Meeting.

“The appointment of the CEOs as Board Directors sends a clear message that the telco industry is united in the ambition to lift our standards, deliver for consumers, and be more responsive to community expectations,” said ATA CEO Luke Coleman.

“A Board consisting of the industry’s CEOs will provide an authoritative voice for the sector at the time we need it most. As an industry, we are committed to rebuilding trust and confidence in the critical services that Australian telcos provide.”

“There is only one sector in the entire Australian economy where prices have gone down and service levels have gone up over the past decade – telecommunications. While the Consumer Price Index is up on every other measure, Australians are paying 20% less for telco services and getting 50 times more data than they were a decade ago. Complaints have plummeted by more than 66% over the same period,” he said.

At today’s AGM, members unanimously voted in support of a change to the ATA’s constitution to require that Directors are the CEOs of member organisations.

Nominated Directors include Vicki Brady (Telstra), Stephen Rue (Optus), Iñaki Berroeta (TPG Telecom), Ellie Sweeney (nbn), Andrés Irlando (Vocus), Brian Maher (Aussie Broadband), Paul Tyler (Superloop), Luke Clifton (Macquarie Technology Group), Ludvig Landgren (Ericsson), and Andrew Cope (Nokia). Deena Shiff remains the Independent Chair.

“Digital infrastructure is the foundation of the modern economy,” Mr Coleman said. “A Board consisting of the industry’s leaders will ensure that the ATA provides a strong, clear voice for the Australian telecoms sector.”

Earlier this year, the Australian Telecommunications Alliance rebranded from its former name, Communications Alliance, to cement the organisation’s role as the voice of the telecoms industry.

The ATA is recognised under Part 6 of the Telecommunications Act as a representative industry body for the development of codes. The ATA is also recognised under Part 21 of the Act as an approved Standards Development Organisation (SDO), accredited by Standards Australia to make technical standards. These industry codes and technical standards are registered with, and enforced by, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The ATA is responsible for close to 130 industry codes, technical standards, guidelines and technical specifications.