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Bird on a wire lashes out

Posted Sat 6 March 2010 @ 6:56 p.m. by Ernie

Usually you're safe from a Bird on a Wire unless you're directly underneath, but Theresa Gattung seems to be endangering everyone within a 360 degree trajectory.Media this weekend have reviewed various chapters. Its frustrating to see the book unveiled chapter by chapter but I guess its a part of the marketing mix - I'm told that media are expected to pay for the right to review a chapter. So maybe we're seeing the more sensational material in advance.According to the Herald she's slated the...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Light relief | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Reflections on a hellish week for Telecom and its customers

Posted Mon 1 March 2010 @ 4:23 a.m. by Ernie

The tsunami warning came as a bit of a relief yesterday. After a solid week when telecommunications was in the news in unfavourable ways, it was good to have this sector off the front page for a day at least – though a lot of people were fervently hoping that if the tsunami proved to be for real, XT would last the distance!The week in telecommunications started on Monday with a disappointing split decision from the Commerce Commission on mobile termination rates. TUANZ said the Commission had...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | Light relief | Vendors | Wireless carriers

"Ed Talks" event will interest those with a stake in ICT in education

Posted Sun 28 February 2010 @ 11:29 p.m. by Ernie

We seldom publicise other organisations' events on here, but this one in the education field is worth making an exception.Coming up on March 26th at Te Papa is a one-day "EDtalks Symposium - Leading Minds, Creating Futures". This symposium features sixteen 20 minute presentations focusing on "current trends in learning enabled through the smart use of technologies, and the related interface between education and business". The line up of presenters is impressive, drawing on the university...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Events

Revolutionising NZ education with fibre

Posted Thu 25 February 2010 @ 12:35 p.m. by Ernie

I’m having two interesting days here in Rotorua at Core Education’s annual http://www.core-ed.net/learningatschool. It’s a big event – 1300 participants including teachers, principals, education administrators, and ever-hopeful equipment vendors. ’m here exploring where TUANZ can best put our energies in this sector. We’ve achieved our goal of a national plan to roll out ultra fast connectivity with government money in support – there are a lot of bridges still to cross but there are good people...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | TUANZ policy

More XT woes last night

Posted Tue 16 February 2010 @ 2:14 p.m. by Ernie

Yet again, an outage in XT. Not so big this time - but big enough. Big enough that if it hadn't been for the two big earlier ones it would probably have made the front pages. Small enough that it may disappear under the radar.Telecom's statement says it affected SMS services, with a much smaller level of disruption to voice traffic. They attribute it to an unusual pattern of text traffic.Maybe so. Maybe it was a flood of spam. But aren't mobile networks designed to manage that?I really feel for the...

Categories: Broadband | Wireless carriers

Fibre responses lodged

Posted Tue 2 February 2010 @ 8:57 p.m. by Ernie

Friday last marked a huge milestone in New Zealand's telecommunications journey. Invitations to Participate in the government's $1.5 billion ultra fast broadband initiative closed.The Proposals themselves will remain under wraps for a while, but some of the participants have issued statements outlining what they have put forward. Rather than repeat what has already been covered in the media, here are links. PARTICIPANTS' MEDIA RELEASESRegional Fibre GroupTelecomVectorMEDIA COVERAGEComputerworld...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | TUANZ policy | Vendors

Telecom compensation offer for XT outage unveiled

Posted Tue 2 February 2010 @ 4:32 p.m. by Ernie

Here's Telecom's package, unveiled earlier this afternoon.Bottom line: for people who've had major dislocation to their families, lives or businesses, it just isn't possible to compensate in a meaningful way with cash. Therefore any financial compensation is a gesture.And as a gesture, I think this is at the upper end of reasonable expectations.TUANZ is still focused on the transparency of the independent review. We want user representation in there when they lift the bonnet, so there can be...

Categories: Broadband | Wireless carriers

European business users press for more regulatory attention

Posted Tue 2 February 2010 @ 2:48 a.m. by Ernie

INTUG, the International Telecommunications Users Group of which TUANZ is an active member, has for some time been pressing the European Commission to recognise the fundamentally different character of business user markets from consumer markets. The difference in needs is especially apparent in the EU because of the pan-European character of commerce, and the strong presence of head offices of multi national corporations who desire to purchase their telecommunications on a European-wide or...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | ISPs | Regulatory | Wireless carriers

Posted Fri 29 January 2010 @ 10:52 a.m. by Ernie

Today’s the day – proposals to partner with the government for the national urban Ultra Fast Broadband project close. There’s a huge flurry of activity. If you’re having trouble getting hold of anyone in the industry, chance are they’re putting the final touches to a proposal. Once details are released, the $1.5 million question will be answered – will there be enough proposals, with a suitable geographic scatter, to enable the government to meet its objectives? My bet is yes – there won’t...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

One 4g mobile network, many users?

Posted Mon 25 January 2010 @ 9:14 a.m. by Ernie

Could it work - a single 4g network shared by three or more mobile operators?The notion has been floated again this morning by Tom Pullar Strecker writing in the DomPost. And the Commerce Commission is clearly taking it seriously.I think it has real merit, provided the ground rules are clear. The devil of course, will lie in the detail.There are questions to ponder:- How will the costing formula work?- How will new operators be able to enter the market and join the shared network after inception;...

Categories: Broadband | Innovation | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

Paying by the bit - "as others see us"

Posted Mon 25 January 2010 @ 8:00 a.m. by Ernie

As local connectedness continues to improve, attention this year will surely focus more on the most important of all telecommunications bottlenecks - international connectivity.Dennis Veihland of TUANZ member Massey University drew my attention to this article by Steve McCabe, a recent arrival in NZ with his family, who bemoans the unfamiliar world of data caps and the unpleasant contrast with his homeland USA.How important are data caps to you? What should TUANZ be doing to resolve the issue? Post...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | ISPs | TUANZ policy

Top telco guru in Auckland this week

Posted Sun 17 January 2010 @ 9:51 p.m. by Ernie

With the new year barely started, New Zealand will be hosting one of the most distinguished people in the telecommunications world later this week. John Stanton, Chairman of the Board of Trilogy International Partners, the majority shareholder of 2degrees Mobile, is visiting NZ and will be featuring at a breakfast organised by the American Chamber of Commerce on 21st January. John Stanton is the former Chairman and CEO of Western Wireless Corporation, one of the largest providers of mobile...

Categories: Broadband | Events | Fixed line carriers | Wireless carriers

Chivers gives a new dimension to the "Revolving Door"

Posted Tue 22 December 2009 @ 7:43 a.m. by Ernie

My counterparts in user associations around the place are fond of talking of the "revolving door" - the propensity for people in senior policy positions to move between incumbents, entrants and government. We've seen plenty of examples in New Zealand and in my humble opinion it has more often been good than bad.So take the case of Ralph Chivers. Go back not many years he was with Telecom. Later he went to the MED to spearhead operational separation. From there he...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

Copyright - a big step towards sanity

Posted Fri 18 December 2009 @ 9:56 p.m. by Ernie

I'm not about to heap praise on anyone, regardless of political persuasion, for the progress announced this week over Section 92a. The cross-party support last year for an undemocratic and unworkable piece of legislation showed the whole of parliament in a poor light. About the only politician to emerge with a shred of credit was Maurice Williamson who, with the characteristic candour that has got him into so much trouble over the years, had the good grace to admit after the event that he didn’t...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Fixed line carriers | ISPs | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

Answer this Victoria University survey and be into win $200.

Posted Sun 13 December 2009 @ 8:58 p.m. by Ernie

TUANZ is supporting a Victoria University of Wellington (TUANZ member) research project on the use of mobile information systems in the workplace. If you are use a mobile with data capability (e.g. mobile e-mail, mobile Internet, mobile business applications etc) for work purposes, we invite you to complete a survey questionnaire. It should take you approximately 12 minutes to complete the survey, which is anonymous and will be available until the 25th of December 2009. (12 minutes...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Wireless carriers

Rural Broadband Symposium - proceedings now available

Posted Sun 13 December 2009 @ 7:21 p.m. by Ernie

A comprehensive summary of the TUANZ Rural Broadband Symposium in association with Alcatel Lucent, written by Louis van Wyk, is now available on the "User News" section of this site. No password required.It was a ground-breaking event which will reverberate for many years. I'm looking forward to getting together with Federated Farmers in the new year to decide a next step.

Categories: Broadband | Education | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Telecom fined for misleading advertising

Posted Wed 9 December 2009 @ 10:08 p.m. by Ernie

Telecom's been fined $500k for misleading advertising,The ComCom fine of a cool half million sounds a lot. Yet the Commission had to do it. Telecom was clearly wrong and admitted the offence.Telecoms Ralph Braham says in essence, they got it wrong but have learned.I believe him. There was a wild west phase in broadband advertising. Everyone overstated their services. It was inexcusable, especially in a service that the customer cannot easily test for themselves. But it was in the heat of an...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | ISPs | Wireless carriers

ECTA, and Net Neutrality (Traffic Prioritisation)

Posted Tue 8 December 2009 @ 9:09 p.m. by Ernie

’m at the ECTA annual regulatory conference here in Brussels. Yesterday was a workshop day, and in the afternoon I attended an interesting and insightful session on net neutrality/network management. It was sub-titled “Policy Issues for the Future of Net-Based Service Provision.” There were eight panellists, all with a different perspective to offer. But I found two in particular, useful to my understanding of the issues. At one end of the spectrum, so to speak, was the peripatetic Richard Feasey,...

Categories: Broadband | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

A week of European conferences approaches

Posted Fri 4 December 2009 @ 3:14 p.m. by Ernie

I’m en route to Brussels and Paris for a week of industry conferences The first is the annual regulatory conference of ECTA, the European Competitive Telecommunications Association. It’s regarded as the best annual event globally on telecommunications regulation and always attracts several Kiwis, but I’ve never made it there before. Though I know several of the key people including Isla Godlovitch who TUANZ brought to Wellington three years back as keynote speaker for the TUANZ Telecommunications...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | Regulatory

Paul Budde has it wrong!

Posted Thu 3 December 2009 @ 11:19 a.m. by Ernie

I usually look forward to Paul Budde's annual foray into NZ. But his scathing criticism of the government's Ultra Fast Broadband plans during his Roundtable this week and in subsequent media comments have left me, and TUANZ Chairman Chris O'Connell who attended in Wellington, perplexed and disappointed.Rob O'Neill has summarised Budde's views in today's Computerworld. The criticism of Minister Joyce and the Ultra Fast Broadband process is extravagant - "totally ridiculous" and "asking...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Vector removes data caps for fibre customers

Posted Fri 27 November 2009 @ 11:07 a.m. by Louis

Business users can now get unlimited data traffic on VectorFibre’s new InterNet service – at speeds of up to 100 Mbps and for a flat monthly fee. This means customers don’t have to give an estimate of their expected data demand for the month, says Vector chief executive Simon Mackenzie. “This is a critical departure from traditional telecommunications industry practice where customers need to provide advance notice to their ISPs of their expected data requirements for the month. “As our fibre...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | ISPs | Vendors

New entrant PerfectVision to debut at first After 5s in 2010

Posted Wed 25 November 2009 @ 2:13 p.m. by Louis

US-based cabling provider PerfectVision will host the first TUANZ After 5s of 2010 as it looks to expand its presence to our shores. PerfectVision has been developing, manufacturing and distributing high-tech products, high performance materials and electronic components since 1979, and is now expanding its presence worldwide with a special focus on Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia. While traditionally a manufacturer of connectors, coaxial cables, tools and other accessories for the satellite...

Categories: Broadband | Events | Vendors

Orcon zero rates YouTube

Posted Tue 24 November 2009 @ 10:06 a.m. by Louis

Orcon will be zero rating all YouTube traffic for the next two months. The company already does not count browsing to or content streaming from local sites such as TVNZ and George FM towards a customer’s monthly data cap, and until the end of January 2010, YouTube will get the same treatment. The move comes as Telecom started selling the much-anticipated Tivo personal video recorder for the first time in New Zealand earlier this month. As part of the deal, Telecom broadband customers can download...

Categories: Broadband | Fixed line carriers | ISPs

Rural broadband symposium - Reflections on Day 1

Posted Fri 13 November 2009 @ 9:38 a.m. by Ernie

Yesterday was the first day of the Rural Broadband Symposium that TUANZ is running alongside Federated Farmers. It was a very stimulating day with some excellent speakers and a real buzz of anticipation around the prospect of a connected rural hinterland. Louis is preparing a comprehensive summary report. Meanwhile here were my three take-away recurring themes from the first day: Theme 1 – the Government’s Rural Broadband Plan • the concept is right• ...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

ComCom monitoring shows a stellar year for competition

Posted Fri 13 November 2009 @ 9:06 a.m. by Ernie

The Commerce Commission is producing really high quality market monitoring reports these days, based in part on the regular OECD benchmarks but adjusting for specific New Zealand characteristics. The Monitoring report it released yesterday is very heartening from a user perspective. While we’re still a long way from the TUANZ vision of “Top Ten in the OECD for Communications Technology” we’re moving fast in the right direction. Please scan the whole report. Here’s some of what you’ll...

Categories: Broadband | Education | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

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