TUANZ - Telecomunications Users Association Of New Zealand

Telecommunications summit looms

Posted Wed 27 May 2009 @ 4:26 a.m. by Ernie

If you missed the TUANZ Telecommunications Day on 12 May, or need another dose of industry update, the 18th annual Telecommunications and ICT Summit in Auckland 23/24 June might be the place for you. An excellent line up of speakers - some from the same companies as Telecommunications Day but others different - is on the programme. The usual suspects, plus some new and stimulating international talent.This is always an interesting event and the timing could hardly be better. Register now!

Categories: Events

In memorium - Sergio Antocicco

Posted Tue 26 May 2009 @ 9:16 p.m. by Ernie

Professor Sergio Antocicco, Chairman of INTUG - the International Telecommunications Users Group of which TUANZ is a member - died earlier this week.Sergio missed last week's INTUG meeting in Brussels because he was undergoing surgery in Rome on the first day - exactly a week ago this afternoon. Then on the second day of the meeting, everyone was delighted when he phoned in from the hospital. He seemed to be in fine form, reporting the operation to have been successful. So...

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Reflections from Europe

Posted Tue 26 May 2009 @ 5:41 a.m. by Ernie

I spent last week at INTUG meetings in Brussels.I've posted a full summary here in Memberline, focused on issues that have relevance for New Zealand. It needs password access, so if you have any issues please contact the TUANZ office.

Latest OECD broadband statistics highlight NZ data caps

Posted Sun 24 May 2009 @ 1:31 p.m. by Ernie

Right at the moment when the OECD released its broadband statistics for the December 2008 year last Wednesday, I was lucky to be hearing the detail straight from the horse's mouth.Dr Sam Paltridge, Communications Analyst at the OECD, spoke at the INTUG/BELTUG meeting I attended in Brussels. Sam is an Australian who has worked for the OECD in Paris for many years and is a world authority on broadband trends. His Aussie roots mean he takes special interest in our corner of the world.So...

Vodafone offers three months free roaming!

Posted Fri 22 May 2009 @ 7:19 a.m. by Ernie

It’s true – I saw the billboard today for myself. Vodafone is to offer FREE roaming for its domestic customers, to as many as 35 commonly-visited countries. Starting 1st June for three months it won't cost them any more to call, text or send picture messages when they're abroad than it does at home. This includes calls between the UK and New Zealand. I heard it on the grapevine a few days ago, checked it in the media yesterday, and today I saw it for myself on this billboard. There is, sadly,...

Categories: Innovation | ISPs | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

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Telecom to axe off-net call charges with XT

Posted Thu 21 May 2009 @ 1:12 p.m. by Louis

Some relief is in sight for New Zealand’s long-suffering mobile phone users… Telecom has revealed it will not charge different rates for calls from its new XT mobile network to other operators’ networks. This is a major development for New Zealand mobile phone users. It means Telecom will remove the penalty currently imposed by both operators for calls to the other’s network (so-called off-net calls). Current plans unfairly favour users making calls on their operator’s network (on-net calls). Although...

Categories: TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Future of broadband is mobile: Qualcomm

Posted Tue 19 May 2009 @ 9:10 a.m. by Louis

While applauding the Government’s planned roll out of an ultra-fast fibre broadband network, Qualcomm’s Robert Hart has told a TUANZ After 5 audience that mobile broadband is the way of the future. The May TUANZ After 5s hosted by Qualcomm kicked off in Christchurch last night. Hart, Qualcomm’s Melbourne-based country manager for Australia and New Zealand, shared with attendees his company’s vision of how mobile broadband technologies form an essential element in the mix of options to secure world-class...

Categories: Events | Vendors

ENUM - Nick White elaborates

Posted Mon 18 May 2009 @ 11:23 p.m. by Ernie

Nick White from INTUG has followed up on an answer he gave at Telecommunications Day, about ENUM. Nick's comment is as follows: "On ENUM, this just isn't on the agenda or radar here for me or INTUG. Numbering was a CMA topic for many years domestically and there was some EU debate over harmonising numbers for a while, trying to establish a European Numbering space behind 3883, and trying to merge things like E164 and X400, but it has all died down now. "People now have Skype names, multiple...

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

Telecommunications Day - a personal reflection

Posted Thu 14 May 2009 @ 9:56 a.m. by Ernie

I’m drained but exhilarated! I was dreading this week. There was a TUANZ Board meeting on Monday, then our annual Telecommunications Day and AGM yesterday. I’d been dreading having to front up to the Board and members to report a significant financial loss in 2008. And I’d been apprehensive about how Telecommunications Day would go – the first time we’ve run a major event with our greatly slimmed-down team. But nothing could have gone better. Nothing! Telecommunications Day was superb....

Fibre to the farm is here - "Close Up"

Posted Thu 14 May 2009 @ 5:24 a.m. by Ernie

This great piece was screened on TV!'s "Close Up" earlier this week. It featured Inspire Net's fibre-to-the-farm venture in the northern Wairarapa district. TUANZ blogged about this last December at the launch.

Categories: Education | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Vendors

Telco Day photos online now

Posted Wed 13 May 2009 @ 5:50 p.m. by Louis

Photos from TUANZ Telecommunications Day 2009, held in Wellington on May 12, in association with Alcatel-Lucent, are on our website now.Click here >>>

Categories: Events

The long and short of Telco Day...

Posted Tue 12 May 2009 @ 4:49 p.m. by Dummy

Today’s TUANZ Telecommunications Day 2009 at Te Papa in Wellington today was no exception. For a long time now, we’ve wanted to get diminutive, but big on energy, TUANZ events coordinator Sophie Czurajewski side by side with towering Telecom CEO Dr Paul Reynolds. So with both present at the event today, we could not resist grabbing a quick snapshot of the two together just to show there is always something interesting happening at TUANZ events!

Categories: Events | Light relief

TUANZ Telecommunications Day a great success

Posted Tue 12 May 2009 @ 4:14 p.m. by Louis

TUANZ Telecommunications Day 2009 kicked off this morning to a room filled to the brim with top end-user decision makers and industry heavyweights, assembled at Te Papa in Wellington. Over 150 people attended the morning session which kicked off with a welcome from Steve Lowe of premier sponsor Alcatel-Lucent, and an opening address by TUANZ chair Chris O’Connell, who described how end users are generating telecommunications at a higher rate than even before. Users’ needs are never satisfied and...

Categories: Events

Joyce gives nod to fibre submissions

Posted Tue 12 May 2009 @ 3:31 p.m. by Louis

In his keynote address at TUANZ Telecommunications Day in Wellington today, ICT minister Steven Joyce indicated that Government may consider allowing its proposed Local Fibre Companies (LFC) to offer layer two fibre access. Although the Government’s proposal initially stated a preference for dark fibre, Joyce said in principle, he now sees no problem in allowing LFCs to provide layer two services. Joyce said the issue of local fibre companies providing second layer access, as well as dark fibre,...

Categories: Events

TUANZ has two new Board members

Posted Tue 12 May 2009 @ 3:26 p.m. by Ernie

TUANZ, has announced the election of two new members to its Board – John Crisp and Tony Wickstead. John Crisp is Telecommunications Manager with Transpower. John started his career in telecommunications as a Linesman for New Zealand Post in 1978, and has since held various roles with national and international organisations; Samoatel Ltd (Samoa), TelstraClear, Gooder Ltd, Nippon Telecommunications Consulting Co Ltd (Sri Lanka). Working for the Japanese Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund) and...

No winners in high court circus

Posted Fri 8 May 2009 @ 9:51 a.m. by Louis

It has been years since I last entered a court room to report on proceedings. My stint as a court reporter during my early journalism days back in South Africa was short-lived as the lure of chasing ambulances was far too great... So it was with a certain amount of rustiness that I sat down on Wednesday to hear Vodafone present its case in the Auckland High Court to gain an injunction against Telecom launching its new XT mobile network. Of course we all know the outcome of this case now, as the...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Vendors | Wireless carriers

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Kiwi to run Telstra?

Posted Fri 8 May 2009 @ 9:47 a.m. by Ernie

Industry newsletter Communications Day is picking that Telstra will today announce David Thodey as its incoming CEO to replace Sol Trujillo. Thodey is currently Group Managing Director of Government and Enterprise, as well as chairman of TelstraClear in NZ.Kiwi-born Thodey si 54 years old and Wellington-educated. Before joining Telstra in 2001 he headed IBM in Australia.Meanwhile Trujillo is expected in New Zealand early next week for what has been described as his "lap of honour" tour.

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

STOP PRESS - Telecom and Vodafone settle out of court

Posted Thu 7 May 2009 @ 8:36 a.m. by Ernie

Telecom and Vodafone have just announced an out of court settlement of their legal issues around the new XT network.The launch will be delayed a couple of weeks to enable Telecom to instal more filters on its network.More coment from TUANZ later today.

Categories: ISPs | TUANZ policy | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Vodafone; Telecom ruling tomorrow

Posted Wed 6 May 2009 @ 5:05 p.m. by Louis

Today’s court case at the Auckland High court between Vodafone and Telecom has been adjourned until midday tomorrow when the judge will make a ruling. I attended the full proceedings today and will write a blog tomorrow morning with details of the case. Vodafone has applied for an injunction against Telecom launching its new 3G mobile network, branded XT, next Wednesday, May 13, claiming the new network is causing harmful interference on its own system.

Categories: Events | Regulatory | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Wanted - business users who are considering a change to TX

Posted Wed 6 May 2009 @ 2:10 p.m. by Ernie

I've been fielding calls from a few media outlets who are keen to talk with large users who are considering changing to TX, either to get some background to the issues or to have them take part on air.Any TUANZ member organisation in this situation who is willing to stick its head up, please contact me without commitment - ernie@tuanz.org.nz

Categories: Wireless carriers

High Court action under way

Posted Wed 6 May 2009 @ 1:09 p.m. by Ernie

Its all on today at the High Court in Auckland - Vodafone is seeking an injunction to stop Telecom launching its XT network next week. I've spent most of the morning there. Its like an industry event - all the usual players. Paul Reynolds commanding the front row with PR crew Tina Symmans, Mark Watts and others. Nearby Vodafone's fielded Tom Chignell among others - including one looking remarkably like Paul Brislen but wearing a tie.So far its not the most gripping entertainment. Vodafone's counsel...

Categories: Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

Vodafone releases statement of claim

Posted Mon 4 May 2009 @ 5:07 p.m. by Louis

Vodafone has released a statement of claim in relation to its court action against Telecom over alleged interference issues from Telecom’s new 3G XT mobile network. The XT network is due to launch on May 13, but Vodafone’s court proceedings may delay the launch. A court hearing is set down for 10am on Wednesday in the Auckland High Court. A copy of Vodafone’s statement of claim is available here. On Friday, Telecom issued this release, which includes copies of correspondence between itself...

Categories: Vendors | Wireless carriers

Vodafone and Telecom - play nicely, please!

Posted Fri 1 May 2009 @ 6:29 p.m. by Ernie

Thankfully its a while (well- a few months at least) since Vodafone and Telecom squared off in the courts. But here we go again.Telecom's shiny new XT network, according to Vodafone, is creating interference with Vodafone’s calls. Vodafone alleges it’s caused a spate of recent service failures, maybe including those reported on TV3 a few days ago.Not so, says Telecom. It claims the support of the MED, who administer radio spectrum. It says Vodafone’s action is...

Categories: TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers