CANBERRA – Investors and telecommunications industry concerns should learn tomorrow if TPG Telecom’s $1.56 billion offer to buy ISP iiNet will get the go-ahead. Commissioners of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission met yesterday to consider the matter, and the ACCC is expected to deliver their findings tomorrow.TPG’s scheme of arrangement was overwhelmingly

accepted by iiNet shareholders three weeks ago, but the proposed deal must

clear the ACCC before going before the Federal Court for final approval.

If approved, the merged group would score an estimated 27 percent of

Australia’s fixed broadband market, making it the No.2 operator behind Telstra

on 41 percent and ahead of Optus at 14 percent.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims was giving nothing away yesterday but he did say the

majority of submissions on the deal had been against it.

Many iiNet users and rivals telcos have opposed the merger,

citing competition concerns and fears about service quality, though TPG’s David

Teoh has promised to maintain high levels of customer service.

More than 100 submissions were made in the first wave of public comments. The

ACCC then raised competition concerns and opened a second round of

consultations – most of which opposed the merger.