Sydney, Jan 24, 2026, 17:30 (AEDT) — Market closed.
- Telstra ended Friday unchanged at A$4.72, marking a roughly 1.3% drop for the week
- OECD called for pro-competition reforms in Australia’s mobile sector, shining a spotlight again on spectrum regulations
- The ASX cash market will be closed Monday for Australia Day. Telstra is set to release its half-year results on Feb. 19.
Telstra Group Ltd (ASX:TLS) faces renewed scrutiny after the OECD called for pro-competitive changes in Australia’s mobile sector.
On Friday, Telstra shares closed steady at A$4.72, slipping about 1.3% over the week, with intraday moves between A$4.71 and A$4.76. The S&P/ASX 200 index nudged up 0.13%.
The timing is crucial since spectrum renewals influence both the cost of operating a mobile network and the allocation rules. Spectrum refers to the radio frequencies carriers use to provide mobile service.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is accepting submissions on its updated preliminary pricing views for renewing expiring spectrum licences until Feb. 27.
The ASX cash market will be closed on Monday for Australia Day, creating a long weekend ahead. Trading is set to pick up again on Tuesday.
The OECD’s Economic Survey of Australia highlights that three mobile network operators dominate the market, with steep entry barriers especially in regional zones.
It noted that retail prices remain high compared to countries with four operators, citing France where prices dropped after a fourth player entered. To ease these barriers, the OECD suggested domestic roaming and tower access in underserved areas as potential measures.
Consumer advocacy group ACCAN said the report raises the stakes for policymakers ahead of Australia’s long-term spectrum renewals.
“The government must pull all levers at its disposal,” ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett stressed. Professor Richard Holden, who was commissioned by ACCAN, warned that customers in poorly served areas could end up “pay[ing] through the nose for unreliable, poor quality mobile services.” ACCAN
For Telstra, this isn’t just a headline that fades quickly. Mandatory sharing can blunt the advantage of a large network, and spectrum pricing risks driving up costs before customers even get to see lower prices.
ACMA outlined a timeline extending well past the coming quarters. Licensees can start renewing expiring licences in the 850 MHz and 1800 MHz bands beginning June 18, 2026.
Telstra’s next major event is looming: half-year results will drop on Feb. 19. The company also announced interim dividend dates for later that month. Shares are set to trade ex-dividend starting Feb. 25, with payments expected on March 27.
Peers will also come under scrutiny. If rules shift to ease the creation of a fourth network, it won’t just impact Telstra—pricing across the entire sector would feel the effects.
But a report and a rulebook are worlds apart. Consultation results can shift, and governments might settle on keeping the current setup—leaving Telstra’s near-term earnings to carry the share price by itself.
