TUANZ - Telecomunications Users Association Of New Zealand

TUANZ - Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand

Search website

Home > Blogs > Downstream

Joyce makes his move - great sense of momentum

Posted Tue 31 March 2009 @ 12:18 p.m. by Ernie

The government's announced the parameters of the fibre package. It's based on a new "Crown Fibre Investment Company" which will work with local investment companies. Its an excellent paper - at the top end of TUANZ expectations. It sets out a clear structure for the proposed partnerships, and will give aspirant investors in the private sector all the information they need to come up with regionally-based proposals.It mentions a need to adhere to "common technical and commercial...

Comments (5)

ComCom airs concerns over national roaming

Posted Mon 30 March 2009 @ 1:23 p.m. by Louis

The Commerce Commission has significant concerns about national mobile roaming pricing and the time it could take new market entrants to negotiate competitive roaming agreements. Mobile roaming deals are crucial for potential market entrants to start operating without first completing a full network. Such deals would enable a new player to offer a nationwide service as subscribers can piggy-back on incumbent networks in areas where the new opeator has no coverage yet. But the Commerce Commission...

Categories: Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Comments (0)

Digital Island becomes Telecom’s second MVNO

Posted Thu 26 March 2009 @ 1:42 p.m. by Louis

Another mobile virtual network operator has launched – this time on Telecom’s network. Digital Island, an Auckland-based provider of telecommunications services, has signed on to become an MVNO on Telecom’s network as it adds mobile phone services to its existing range of voice and data products. The addition of mobile services to Digital Island’s business product range is crucial, says general manager Blair Stewart. “With the addition of mobile, Digital Island now offers a complete suite...

Categories: TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Comments (0)

Telecom ordered to open its books

Posted Thu 26 March 2009 @ 11:23 a.m. by Louis

Better transparency of the cost and operation of Telecom’s services and business units, promises to promote better competition in the telecommunications industry, the Commerce Commission says. The Commission yesterday issued regulatory requirements for the accounting separation of Telecom, that will see Telecom publish financial and other information about its retail, wholesale and network business activities. The Commission says having this information publicly available will keep a wide range...

Comments (0)

Telecom takes critic on board - literally

Posted Wed 25 March 2009 @ 5:20 p.m. by Louis

Telecom’s latest addition to its board last year lambasted the country’s broadband infrastructure at a TUANZ event. The company announced yesterday that Dr Sachio Semmoto has been appointed to its board. For the uninitiated, Semmoto, a Japanese telecommunications entrepreneur, was the keynote speaker at TUANZ’s Telecommunication Day II last August. And it is here that he described New Zealand’s broadband situation “as very retarded”, as reported in this Computerworld article (we’ll forgive them...

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

Comments (0)

Proposed MTRs not nearly low enough: ComCom

Posted Wed 25 March 2009 @ 11:34 a.m. by Louis

Cuts in mobile termination rates (MTRs) offered by incumbent mobile network operators Vodafone and Telecom have fallen way short of the Commerce Commission’s expectations. The two carriers, along with yet-to-launch New Zealand Communications, submitted the undertakings to the Commission on MTRs in January, as an alternative to regulation. In its response to the undertakings, released today, the Commission states that Vodafone and Telecom have not gone nearly far enough in their proposed reduction...

Categories: Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Comments (2)

Poor customer service stains telco industry’s reputation

Posted Tue 24 March 2009 @ 4:50 p.m. by Louis

Over the years, TUANZ has given the telcos quite a ribbing about the state of their customer service. But, we have not done this out of bloody mindedness – rather because we believe substandard customer service is an issue this industry needs to pay serious attention to. We have also been quite even handed and have not just picked on the big players such as Telecom and Vodafone, but have also spoken out about smaller operators, such as WorldXChange most recently. Now, a new independent study...

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

Comments (4)

Victory! Section 92A to be amended

Posted Mon 23 March 2009 @ 4:12 p.m. by Louis

The Government has just announced that the controversial Section 92A of the Copyright Act will not be implemented as planned this week, and will instead be amended to address areas of concern. In a statement issued this afternoon, Commerce Minister Simon Power said allowing section 92A to come into force in its current format would not be appropriate given the level of uncertainty around its operation.This is great news and is an outcome TUANZ, amongst other organisations, has been working towards...

Categories: ISPs | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

Comments (1)

Google enters Section 92A fray

Posted Fri 20 March 2009 @ 12:55 p.m. by Louis

Google has added an interesting dimension to the debate around the unpopular Section 92A of the Copyright Act. In a detailed submission to the Telecommunications Carriers Forum on the draft ISP copyright code of practice act, Google heavily criticises the new act. The folks over at PC World have done a thorough read of the submission and have highlighted some of its main points. Google draws from its experience with copyright holders in US and notes that 57% of the takedown notices it has received...

Categories: ISPs | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Vendors

Comments (0)

Ironic twist in Telecom outage saga

Posted Fri 20 March 2009 @ 12:08 p.m. by Louis

A loss of service is never a pleasant experience, especially if it is something as crucial as your internet connection, as many Wellington businesses found this week. But, while Telecom’s internet outage on Wednesday caught the headlines, another technical hitch which left at least 200 unsatisfied ‘customers’ in its wake has not been reported. I’m talking about Wednesday night’s scheduled session of the free Telecom Movies in the Park season here in Auckland. The scene was all set for a great...

Categories: Light relief | Vendors

Comments (3)

Skullduggery around Rebstock departure from ComCom

Posted Thu 19 March 2009 @ 8:02 a.m. by Ernie

If columnist Fran O'Sullivan is even partly right that the surprise "resignation" of Paula Rebstock as Commerce Commission chair was engineered by the big businesses who are the Commission's targets, along with their legal advisors, then we should all be very, very, very concerned.O'Sullivan's article yesterday should be compulsory reading for all. Please show this to your CEOs, and other people who have contact or influence with government. Politicians need to understand that...

Comments (2)

Telecom outage in Wellington

Posted Wed 18 March 2009 @ 6:07 p.m. by Ernie

Telecom - or more correctly its business customers - suffered a major outage of their data and Internet services this afternoon. It started about 2.30 and by 5.15pm Telecom claimed to have most of it fixed. The number of customers is unknown but substantial.TUANZ will comment on this more fiully tomorrow.An earlier posting on this blog saying the outage was in the residential market was incorrect, due to a miscommunication between a Telecom spokesman and myself.

Categories: Fixed line carriers | ISPs

Comments (0)

Bell Canada scaremongers with 'telephonic Armageddon' threat

Posted Wed 18 March 2009 @ 4:52 p.m. by Louis

If you disapproved of the protectionist stance of New Zealand’s telco troika of Telecom, TesltraClear and Vodafone in the recent Castalia Report, spare a thought for the Canadians. In the land of the maple leaf, the incumbent, Bell Canada, is threatening not to upgrade to next-generation technology if planned regulation goes ahead. The company has appealed the decision of the national regulator, the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), requiring it to provide rivals...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Light relief | Regulatory | Vendors

Comments (2)

"Scrap Section 92a" - parliamentary support grows

Posted Tue 17 March 2009 @ 3:09 p.m. by Ernie

United Future Minister Peter Dunne has become the second Minister in 4 days to call for repeal of the infamous S92a of the Copyright Act. The other was ACT's Rodney Hide, speaking to his party conference last weekend.Cross party support continues to grow, illustrating the increasing range of complex issues arising as businesses get to grips with the implications of the Act. And Labour IT spokesperson Clare Curran is crusading on the issue and facilitating a dialogue among the various interests...

Categories: Education | Fixed line carriers | ISPs | Regulatory

Comments (0)

“Lacklustre” broadband keeps New Zealand near bottom of connectivity rankings

Posted Mon 16 March 2009 @ 5:34 p.m. by Louis

Weak consumer internet infrastructure has been highlighted as a reason for New Zealand’s low ranking in a new connectivity study. New Zealand ranks 16th out of 25 “innovation driven” economies in the 2009 Connectivity Scorecard study. It achieved a “connectivity score” of 4.85 compared to the top ranking score of 7.71 attained by the United States and Australia’s 8th ranked score of 6.14. According to the report, created by Professor Leonard Waverman of the London Business School and economic...

Categories: Innovation | TUANZ policy

Comments (0)

BREAKING NEWS: Paula Rebstock to leave ComCom

Posted Mon 16 March 2009 @ 5:12 p.m. by Louis

Simon Power, Minister of Commerce, has just announced that Commerce Commission chair Paula Rebstock will be stepping down from her role on March 31. She will be replaced by Mark Barry.Rebstock has been at the Commerce Commission for 11 years and was chair for almost five-and-a-half years.According to Stuff, Berry is a specialist in competition law and economic regulation. He previously held the role of deputy chairman of the Commission between 1999 and 2001.Soon-to-launch mobile carrier NZ Comms...

Categories: Regulatory | Wireless carriers

Comments (0)

Why some countries have better fibre

Posted Sat 14 March 2009 @ 12:08 p.m. by Ernie

Many thanks to a reader for drawing attention to this insightful article from the New York Times a couple of days ago. It affirms that New Zealand is definitely on the right track.

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

Comments (0)

Aussies hear TUANZ's ‘audacious’ aspirations for fibre

Posted Fri 13 March 2009 @ 1:03 p.m. by Louis

TUANZ Chief Executive Ernie Newman has today laid out New Zealand’s fibre aspirations at the annual Australian Telecommunications Users Group Conference in Sydney. In the presentation Ernie stated that for the first time in history, telecommunications in New Zealand is poised to achieve its true potential in supporting economic growth and more fulfilling lives for people in all spheres of society. He called the government’s plan for the migration to fibre to the premises a “very big vision”, but...

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

Comments (0)

Telecom next-gen IP network passes first test

Posted Fri 13 March 2009 @ 12:45 p.m. by Louis

Telecom has taken the first call over its new voice over IP network. Yesterday, a group of school kids made the first call over Telecom’s IP-based next generation network that will replace its existing and ageing public switched phone network (PSTN) by 2020. Telecom says the completion of the first call meets one of its regulatory undertakings to the Commerce Commission, ahead of schedule. According to Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds, customers will be offered pilot services on the NGN later this year,...

Categories: Events | Fixed line carriers | Regulatory | Vendors

Comments (0)

Posted Wed 11 March 2009 @ 5:35 p.m. by Ernie

TelstraClear has pulled out of the Telecommunications Carriers Forum Working Party on copyright – the one that has been trying to make a silk purse out of the sow’s ear of Section 92a. Honestly, I’m not surprised. I’m amazed and impressed that the Working Party got so far down the track in such frustrating circumstances without a major rift long before this. And TelstraClear’s position, as set out clearly in its Submission, is very principled. TUANZ has reacted with a statement expressing our...

Comments (0)

Text spammer unmasked

Posted Wed 11 March 2009 @ 12:10 p.m. by Louis

Computerworld has today revealed that a known spammer is behind a spate of unsolicited text messages received by Vodafone customers. In this investigative piece, journalist Juha Saarinen discloses that messages marketing a mobile phone antenna booster can be linked to one Brendan Battles – a known email spammer who has been dubbed the Spam King. The story details the connection between Battles and the unwanted text messages. While this unmasking may not immediately stop these activities, it has...

Categories: Regulatory | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Comments (3)

Telecom gets the "Yeah Right" treatment

Posted Mon 9 March 2009 @ 5:35 p.m. by Louis

Patchy rural phone coverage has become the subject of a new Tui “Yeah Right” billboard. Close to 7,500 people have signed a petition to the two mobile carriers to extend their coverage to include a treacherous section of SH3 between Urenui in Taranaki to Piopio in Waikato. The petition was started by New Plymouth resident Chris O’Connor (not to be confused with TUANZ chairman Chris O’Connell), and while Vodafone has indicated the area is a “strong contender” for a new cell site in the near future,...

Categories: Light relief | Wireless carriers

Comments (2)

“Chavez Phone” promises to answer the prayers of the poorly connected

Posted Mon 9 March 2009 @ 3:37 p.m. by Louis

Although being dubbed the “Jesus Phone”, Apple’s iPhone is unlikely to ever gain many followers among the less fortunate citizens of the world due to its relatively high price. However, a savior for these poor souls is coming soon with a promise of eternal connectivity. And this one is also named after a larger-than-life figure – enter the “Chavez Phone”… Say what you will about semi-socialist revolutionaries, but at least Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is answering his people’s prayers to get...

Categories: Innovation | Wireless carriers

Comments (0)

Fibre future proofs a 21st century economy

Posted Fri 6 March 2009 @ 12:28 p.m. by Louis

Fibre to the premise was one of the hotly debated topics at the Commerce Commission’s Broadband at a Crossroads conference on next generation networks last week. ICT Minister Steven Joyce set the scene by reasserting the government’s planned $1.5 billion fibre to the home investment, followed by a variety of speakers who supported the concept and some who did not, while the recent Castalia Report issued by Telecom, Vodafone and TelstraClear also generated some heated discussion. While no one disputed...

Categories: Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | TUANZ policy | Vendors

Comments (2)

Submissions sought on ICT professional certification

Posted Thu 5 March 2009 @ 9:34 a.m. by Louis

The New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS) has released the draft model of its ICT Professional Certification for public consultation. The aim of the programme is to bring internationally-recognised ICT professional certification to New Zealand. “The importance of professional accreditation by an independent professional body has been proven around the world and will give New Zealand ICT professionals the opportunity to gain the same professional recognition as available in many...

Categories: Education | Events | Innovation

Comments (1)

		30 Records Found, Viewing Page 1 of 2