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Posted Thu 29 November 2007 @ 10:40 a.m. by Ernie

I'm here at the Digital Summit and its pretty full on - hence no posts these past two days. Sarah has been posting, but I'm holding fire to do a wrap at the end.But one thing that as really hit me the past two days is the contrasting receptions given the three ministers who've spoken thus far.David Cunliffe's opening address was outstanding. Visionary, information-rich, passionate, showing real leadership. A very senior industry leader described it to me last evening as the best speech he had heard,...

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Building billion-dollar businesses from the beach

Posted Thu 29 November 2007 @ 12:47 a.m. by Sarah

The Digital Future Summit has begun under a weight of expectations with a scene setting speech by Minister David Cunliffe. In a lively address he signaled the government’s intention to invest in telecommunications infrastructure. “The government sees itself as having an ongoing role as a regulator, investor, owner and customer and sees broadband as a priority through these multiple lenses.” Cunliffe spoke about last mile connectivity via fibre to the node and government investment in an international...

Categories: Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Regulatory

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TUANZ Releases Input to Digital Strategy "Refresh" Process

Posted Tue 27 November 2007 @ 8:31 a.m. by Ernie

With the government's "Digital Future Summit" on in Auckland tomorrow and Thursday, TUANZ has released a list of ten high level points to be part of the refresh process. These have originated from several sources - the consultation event we held at Waiheke early this month, our existing policies, and recent debate by our Board.Click here for the one page summary. A more detailed paper will be prepared after the Summit, having regard to what we learn from that event.Those who are not attending the...

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Telecom Draft Separation Plans "Fall Far Short" - TUANZ

Posted Sun 25 November 2007 @ 1:27 p.m. by Ernie

TUANZ has lodged our Submission on Telecom's draft undertakings for operational separation, noting that they "fall far short of the robust separation required in the Telecommunications Act" and "Telecom has restricted (them) to the bare minimum scope required under existing law."Here are the Draft Undertakings and the full TUANZ Submission.

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

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Benefit of the Doubt Goes to Telecom Wholesale

Posted Sun 25 November 2007 @ 11:59 a.m. by Ernie

My posting last week "Telecom Wholesale Has a Case to Answer" created a bit of a storm. I've had strong representations from both sides and phone calls from highly unusual sources, lobbying me about the position TUANZ should take. At last count I can remember at least 18 conversations ranging from TCF Board members, hands-on regulatory people, industry observers, and CEOs. And there’s been a reaction from readers in the Blog comments - even one who had second thoughts and...

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Telecom Wholesale Has a Case to Answer

Posted Wed 21 November 2007 @ 4:35 p.m. by Ernie

Has the new friendly Telecom of the last eighteen months been a facade? Has the ugly, anti-competitive; scheming version returned? Did it ever go away?Strong questions. But fair ones given the shock to the industry and users today of Telecom's announcement of its cabinetisation plans.Cabinetisation in New Zealand was always going to be on a collision course with LLU, largely because of our extremely late adoption of unbundling. That lateness was of course, very pleasing to Telecom who had a lot to...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | ISPs | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors

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CallPlus and Compass together in Spectrumania

Posted Wed 21 November 2007 @ 9:38 a.m. by Sarah

With all the haggling over access to fibre, cabinets and copper, the idea that you could build a last-mile network that bypassed the local loop is enormously appealing. And that’s where WiMax comes in – the wireless technology that promises fibre speeds at copper prices. Yes it has its detractors, but it also has its champions and it’s a pretty safe assumption that Malcolm Dick (CallPlus) and Karim Hussona (Compass Communications) are in the latter camp. They are both named as directors in the...

Categories: Regulatory | Wireless carriers

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Consumers "Rebelling" Against Mobile Phone Industry

Posted Sun 18 November 2007 @ 6:30 a.m. by Ernie

Mounting consumer hostility against mobile phone companies, a big challenge to them from disruptive technologies, and US regulatory moves to create a more open mobile network akin to the Internet are predicted in this interesting article from the New York Times.The world-wide battle against the excesses of mobile carriers seems to be gaining momentum. Not only are there more signs of consumer disquiet , but stronger strong regulatory action is occurring - especially in Europe...

Categories: Regulatory | TUANZ policy

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Government to introduce ID database

Posted Fri 16 November 2007 @ 3:46 p.m. by Sarah

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and the State Services Commission are developing an independent database specifically for online identity verification. Yesterday I attended a workshop about the 'igovt' project along with representatives from groups such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Consumers Institute and the Human Rights Foundation.The igovt online identity verification service will enable citizens to engage in government services over the internet. Examples of these services...

Categories: Innovation

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Taking it to the Classroom

Posted Wed 14 November 2007 @ 9:09 a.m. by Sarah

A week on from the TUANZ ICT Skills Shortage Conference it’s been pleasing to see the issue gain traction in the mainstream media. There was coverage of the conference in Computerworld and The National Business Review, and in the Dominion Post Gen-i GM Chris Quin featured in two articles about the issue. What isn’t so great is the constant refrain - as ICT job vacancies increase, the number of young people studying for a job in the profession is decreasing. It’s an issue that Garry Roberton highlighted...

Categories: Education | Events | Light relief

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Internet Peering - Hope on the Horizon

Posted Mon 12 November 2007 @ 11:33 a.m. by Ernie

Internet New Zealand has released for public comment an excellent report on issues regarding Internet peering and interconnection in NZ. This will be of interest to some of TUANZ's larger members.Some weeks ago TUANZ initiated a dialogue between Telecom and a group of large end users. Two things emerged - first, that some very large users with high traffic volumes are keen to peer with telcos, and second that Telecom has an increasingly open mind to such...

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We're Back! TelstraClear Shows its Mobile Hand

Posted Mon 12 November 2007 @ 11:18 a.m. by Ernie

TelstraClear has announced this morning that it has re-entered the mobile space with two voice plans and one data plan designed for SMEs. This ends the company's departure form the mobile market in controversial circumstances a few months back.Large enterprise customers and residential customers will be offered mobile services early in 2008, the company says.

Categories: Innovation | Vendors | Wireless carriers

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Authentic leadership, Fiji with Snow, and a horse named Efficient

Posted Fri 9 November 2007 @ 8:32 a.m. by Sarah

“We stepped into the mind of the New Zealand workforce and it’s pretty scary,” said Lester Levy, chief executive of Excelerator, professor at Auckland University’s Business School and keynote speaker at the TUANZ ICT Skills Shortage Conference.To the assembled group of CIOs, IT and HR Managers and Contact Centre professionals, Levy made it clear from the outset that staff retention begins and ends with leadership. His research into the role of Authentic Leadership involved interviewing...

Categories: Events | Fixed line carriers | ISPs | Vendors | Wireless carriers

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Online celebrations

Posted Thu 8 November 2007 @ 8:12 p.m. by Sarah

We’ve had this rather mad week at TUANZ with two conferences running back to back. On Tuesday in Auckland we had the ICT Skills Shortage Conference (which I’ll blog about later) and today in Wellington, the Business Internet Conference has just finished. Last night it was the Business Internet Awards, which Ernie has already blogged about. MC David Farrar was a genial host and set the tone for a great night out. You can check out the video of the ceremony here. Earlier in...

Categories: Events | Innovation

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Business Internet Awards - the Real Oil From the Judges

Posted Thu 8 November 2007 @ 1:32 p.m. by Ernie

I'm in Wellington sitting through the final afternoon of the TUANZ Business Internet Conference. The judges of the awards last night are talking about their impressions of the entries. Head Judge Chris O'Connell of RadaR Guidance, and Mike Hyde of Clemenger BBDO (who was also a winner last night) are speaking on behalf of the judging panel. Some of my take-aways from a very informative session:- A significant rise in the number of entries created by in-house teams rather...

Categories: Events | Innovation

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Well Done, Air New Zealand et al!

Posted Thu 8 November 2007 @ 8:48 a.m. by Ernie

I had a ball last night at the TUANZ Business Internet Awards. The energy and enthusiasm of people in the interactive/multimedia/interactive space is amazing!Air New Zealand's success in taking no less than three awards, including the Best of the Best, was stunning. And yet another trophy will line Rod Drury's cabinet at Xero - what a success story that company is becoming.Sarah is going to blog about the Awards in more detail later today so I won't steal her thunder. But it was a GREAT night - thanks...

Categories: Events | Innovation | Light relief

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LLU Price Finalised

Posted Thu 8 November 2007 @ 8:38 a.m. by Ernie

The Commerce Commission has announced the final pricing and terms for LLU. The monthly price has come out around $3 higher than the draft which will please Telecom. Some of the new entrants may protest, but that's the rhetoric of the game. The pricing is a well-defined but complex arithmetical process. I for one don't profess to understand the detail, but I do have confidence in the professionalism and integrity of the Commerce Commission to get it right.Increasingly I see the key to broadband uptake...

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

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TUANZ Brainstorms Digital Strategy at Waiheke

Posted Tue 6 November 2007 @ 7:41 p.m. by Ernie

A highly successful members-only meeting at Waiheke Island last Thursday and Friday led to a full review of the Digital Strategy by a range of TUANZ members. Some 30 people attended representing a broad cross section of TUANZ members, with an emphasis on larger organisations.Staff will pull together the mass of input over the next few days and refer it to the TUANZ Board for ratification before publishing it in advance of the government's Digital Future Summit later this month. Meanwhile suffice...

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New OECD Broadband Figures Take NZ Up a Notch

Posted Tue 6 November 2007 @ 7:28 p.m. by Ernie

The OECD has updated its league table for broadband uptake per capita to the end of June 2007. This time there is a whole new Web site with a lot of new data.So far TUANZ hasn't had time to study the details but our initial reaction to NZ moving up one place is as follows: "Any upward movement, no matter how small, is good news. However, New Zealand needs to aspire to more than incremental improvement. We need a huge step change.Research released by the New Zealand Institute in September...

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

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Telecom in the News Again - Good and Bad

Posted Mon 5 November 2007 @ 7:49 a.m. by Ernie

How refreshing to hear Dr Paul Reynolds on National Radio this morning referring to local loop unbundling as "standard practice in the telecommunications environment world wide."What a contrast to the plaintive bleatings we heard from Telecom's management and spinners around 2004/05! What an indictment of the perplexing 2004 Commerce Commission rejection of LLU. Did Telecom try to mislead New Zealanders, big time, in those days? You bet!It's still honeymoon time for Dr Reynolds,...

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

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Kiwi Leading ICANN!

Posted Sat 3 November 2007 @ 4:06 p.m. by Ernie

Enormous congratulations to Peter Dengate Thrush on becoming Chair of ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It is a huge accomplishment for any non-American and especially a New Zealander.Peter is one of those rather special people who get on with things very efficently, and seem to get through life without ever standing on anyone's toes. He is one of those rare people who has the respect of just about everyone who he comes across.TUANZ and the communities around us congratulate...

Categories: Innovation | ISPs | TUANZ policy

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$5.76 for Tourism NZ, 18c for TUANZ

Posted Fri 2 November 2007 @ 8:08 a.m. by Sarah

One of the most fun things we’ve done this year was to make a short video and post it onto YouTube. The winning combination of Ernie’s piano accordion playing and my ability hold up large pieces of cardboard has meant our modest effort has so far been viewed 1826 times in about six weeks. A couple of weeks after our YouTube debut, Tourism NZ posted their more ambitious video created by Weta Workshops and complete with their own Channel and front page placement on the site. At the time I remarked...

Categories: Events | Light relief

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