Regulatory Update Australia
Someone once said that the only thing that is constant is change and that is certainly true of the regulatory and operational environment in Australia.
Double Opt-ins
This quarter has seen announcements from all of the mobile operators to mandate the use of double opt in on all subscription services from July 1st.
New MPS Code
In addition, the MPS Code, developed by the Communication Alliance and members of industry has been registered by ACMA this month, which will also become the body responsible for enforcing the code, as well as being responsible for penalising those not conforming to the code.
The consequence of the new MPS Code will include significantly increased fines, court action and damages for those that do not comply with the code. In addition, Information Providers will be held directly responsible for their own compliance.
So, in summary, Australia will have an industry wide code, monitored by the TIO and enforced by ACMA. Mandatory compliance will be by July 1st.
As an active member of the Communications Alliance, Oxygen8’s local team in Australia is fully geared up to implement these new guidelines by the deadline and is ideally placed to guide both our existing customers through these changes and any new entrants to the market.
Only this week the ACMA signed off on a regulatory training programme developed by Oxygen8 specifically to educate and guide our clients through the new regulations. This will be offered as a free benefit to our clients as part of our on-going commitment to compliance in Australia and we expect to delivering the 1st client workshops soon.
The Australian market remains an attractive one, full of opportunities. Locally, we will be launching both the Premium IM product, as well as our suite of Classified services, both of which we believe will be ground breaking 1sts for this market.
Contact our local team and discuss what opportunities there are for your business in the region
The MPS Code and Guidelines can be obtained from: http://www.commsalliance.com.au/Activities/Mobile_Premium_Services
