Vodafone Australia's revenue fell by 16 per cent in the last three months of 2012 as it continued to lose thousands of customers.

Accounts released overnight by Vodafone's European-based parent showed its Australian business lost 64,000 customers in the three months to December 31, to 3.11 million.

That contributed to a 16 per cent fall in Vodafone Australia's service revenue during the same period.

"The business continues to focus on network improvements and arresting weakness in brand perception," Vodafone Group said in its third quarter financial report.

Vodafone Australia's revenue fall was sharper than the 14.4 per cent drop it recorded in the three months to the end of September.

During that quarter the telco lost 77,000 customers.

Vodafone Australia is jointly owned by Vodafone Group and Hutchison Telecommunications Australia (HTA), which used to own the 3 brand.

HTA is scheduled to release its half year financial report later in February.

Meanwhile, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has been accused of bullying and intimidating telecommunications bosses, after attacking the Vodafone's Australian chief for questioning government policy.

Senator Conroy reportedly compared Vodafone Australia boss Bill Morrow to unpopular former Telstra boss Sol Trujillo, after he questioned the government's commitment to the universal service obligation.

Mr Morrow has called for a review of the subsidies paid to maintain fixed line services, which he said had cost the industry more than $660 million over 10 years.

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said Senator Conroy's comments were typical of "a very arrogant and bullying attitude" to a regulated industry.