By Sarah Danckert September 17, 2019 — 1.32pm
A senior TPG Telecom executive has claimed the company scrapped plans for a mobile network following “community pressure” – including from Nine TV Show A Current Affair – over the health impacts of wireless technology.
On the sixth day of the three-week trial on whether to overturn the competition watchdog’s decision to block the $15 billion merger between TPG and Vodafone Hutchison Australia, TPG’s chief operating executive Craig Levy told the Federal Court the company had become nervous about community concerns over its small-cell 4G network rollout.
The ACCC argues that the two companies should not be allowed to merge because it would stop any chance of TPG becoming Australia’s fourth mobile network operator – a new competitor to Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
TPG argues that it cannot afford to build a network, and no longer wants to, despite announcing plans before the merger to do so.
Under cross examination by ACCC counsel Michael Hodge, QC, Mr Levy said the community concerns had an impact on TPG because it led to people thinking less of its brand.
“If people have concerns about the impact on their health…they are not just looking at our model in a positive manner.”
Mr Hodge shot back saying: “You don’t think there is any scientific rationale for this do you?”
Mr Levy replied that it was “not his area of expertise”.
“The equipment that we were using was well within the standard and it is very much acceptable in terms of the standards.”
Hodge then asked if “there was some segment of the community that held an irrational concern about the effects of small cells”.
Mr Levy responded: I wouldn’t call it irrational. I think people have rational concerns.”
Mr Levy later revealed it was a media enquiry by ACA that had weighed on his concerns. TPG also received a letter from Senator Mitch Fifield, then the telecommunications Minister, relaying community concerns brought to his office.
Mystery surrounds some of Mr Levy’s evidence about the community concerns.
Mr Levy asked to detail those community concerns in closed court, leading to the court room being emptied while he explained what members of the community had contacted TPG to voice their concerns.
The court was re-opened after five minutes, and Justice John Middleton said the evidence Mr Levy had given in closed court would now be included in the transcript. The media do not receive a transcript on the same day of proceedings.
Mr Levy’s testimony provided fresh information on the reasons why TPG believes it can no longer build the network.
Last week TPG executive chairman David Teoh said the group had stopped the rollout due to financial concerns once its tech provider Huawei was banned by the government.
The case continues.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/tpg-claims-it-abandoned-mobile-network-due-to-health-fears-20190917-p52s5s.html
