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Primus Telecommunications, Optus Networks, XYZed, Request Broadband, PowerTel Limited and Chime Communications have all separately have notified the ACCC of their access disputes relating to the supply of the Unconditioned Local Loop Service by Telstra Corporation Limited in the past few weeks.

The ULLS involves the use of unconditioned cable, primarily copper pairs, between end users and a telephone exchange. The ULLS essentially gives an access seeker the use of the copper pair without any dial tone or carriage service.

This allows the access seeker to use the ULLS in conjunction with its own equipment in an exchange to provide a range of services, including traditional voice services and high speed internet access, to end-users connected to that exchange.

These access disputes relate to monthly rental, connection and other charges for the supply of the Unconditioned Local Loop by Telstra for the period beyond 30 June 2008.

The ACCC says it has commenced the arbitration process for this access dispute, and "will not be making any public comment at this stage".

Channelnews contacted Optus, but as of this morning, has it refused to make comment on this issue, saying that "they do not comment on issues that are in the process of arbitration".