ACCC Fines Google For Anti-Competitive Agreements With Telstra & Optus

Google has agreed to pay a penalty of AUD 55 million (USD 35.8 million) after Australia’s competition regulator accused it of entering into anti-competitive agreements with telecom operators Telstra and Optus.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Google Asia Pacific struck deals between December 2019 and March 2021 to ensure only Google Search was pre-installed on Android smartphones sold by the two telcos. In return, Telstra and Optus received a share of ad revenues from searches on those devices. ACCC stated that such arrangements limited access for rival search engines. Google admitted liability and, with the ACCC, submitted the penalty to the Federal Court.

The company has also committed to removing such restrictions in future contracts. Google, Telstra, and Optus have not issued comments on the settlement.