TUANZ - Telecomunications Users Association Of New Zealand

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IPv6 - doomsday, or over-hyped?

Posted Wed 30 September 2009 @ 7:43 p.m. by Dummy

I've been waiting for this chance to sit through a day or so of quality, independent debate about IPv6 and assess for myself where it stands on the continuum between national disaster and non event.A full day session on the topic at the current APECTel meeting in Cancun has decided me.If I'm right, the news for the typical Kiwi end user is good. Its not for us to take the early lead, nor is it the end user who will be hit first when the IPv6 tsunami strikes. BUT there are simple, inexpensive...

Categories: Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs

International Roaming - International Action Looms

Posted Wed 30 September 2009 @ 7:22 p.m. by Ernie

A serious breakthrough is now under way on excessive international mobile roaming charges - the charges that have angered travellers around the world ever since the early days of mobile phones.The 6 monthly APECTel meeting that I've been attending seems intent on lifting the bar and doing something serious by way of an international approach to dealing with this. I did my part giving a presentation on behalf of TUANZ and INTUG - thanks to all the TUANZ members who took time to fill...

Categories: Events | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

Mexico - 6 out of 10 for telecommunications

Posted Wed 30 September 2009 @ 6:50 p.m. by Ernie

I've been quiet on the blogging for a few days. Reason - been here in Cancun, Mexico for the 6-monthly session of APECTel, the regional forum for policy makers and regulators. I'm about to post specific items about three key developments and insights to do with international mobile roaming, IPv6, and electricity.Its good to travel and see how New Zealand compares with others.I have to say connectivity here in Cancun is patchy. Email is fine. But voice and SMS are unpredictable - most of the time...

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

Fibre speeds to rocket along

Posted Tue 29 September 2009 @ 11:51 a.m. by Louis

Two separate research projects have set new heights for data transmissions speeds over fibre optic networks. In the first, scientists at Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs set an optical transmission record that could deliver data about 10 times faster than current undersea cables. The researchers at the Bell Labs facility in France achieved dizzying speeds of more than 100 Petabits per second.kilometer, which equates to about 100 million Gigabits per second.kilometer. This experiment involved sending...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Innovation | Vendors

New industry levy to fund rural broadband

Posted Tue 29 September 2009 @ 9:37 a.m. by Louis

The Government plans to reform the Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) levy to help fund its ambitions for rural telecommunications. Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce announced this morning that the Government wants to help fund rural broadband through a more transparent and effective industry levy than the current TSO levy. This will be to top up a direct Government direct contribution of $48 million and further interim funding of up to $52 million, to...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

Fibre to come early to Hobsonville

Posted Mon 28 September 2009 @ 2:39 p.m. by Louis

While most of the country will have to wait for the Government’s ultra-fast broadband initiative to bring fibre to their door, the estimated 10,000 residents of a new development in Hobsonville will jump the queue. According to a report in the New Zealand Herald today, Vector is laying both underground power and fibre cables to the new settlement on former Air Force land. This is a very efficient and cost-effective way to get fibre to homes and should be considered for all new commercial and residential...

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

Broadband report highlights investment divide

Posted Wed 23 September 2009 @ 11:33 a.m. by Louis

While the latest Commerce Commission broadband quality report shows a steady improvement in performance – in our five major cities at least, it also highlights where more work is needed. The quarterly report examines the quality of broadband services provided by ISPs for the three months to June 2009, in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The report is based on results from testing conducted by independent benchmarking consultant Epitiro in central sites in the five cities...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | ISPs | TUANZ policy

More Kiwis to get taste of fast internet

Posted Tue 22 September 2009 @ 4:36 p.m. by Louis

More internet users will get to sample super-fast broadband as Telecom Wholesale expands its VDSL2 trial across the country. VDSL2 is the fastest standard of broadband that is available over copper and Telecom Wholesale says some users on its VDSL2 pilot service have seen broadband speeds up to 40Mbps downstream and 16Mbps upstream. From 1 October 2009, the company is making the service available to ISPs to onsell from the following exchanges: Christchurch, Fendalton, Ricccarton, Nelson, Wellington...

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

Korean mobile rates to get the chop

Posted Tue 22 September 2009 @ 3:19 p.m. by Louis

New Zealand and South Korean mobile phone users share a similar plight – they both pay too much for their mobile services. And regulators in both countries are stepping in to address this issue. Korean regulator Korea Communications Commission (KCC) plans to force a cut of as much as 20% in mobile voice rates. The KCC says it is determined to follow through on a promise made by South Korean president Lee Myung-bak to reduce mobile rates by 20 percent by the second half of 2010. The regulator...

Categories: Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

Welcome to the brave new (telecommunications) world - Sydney Morning Herald

Posted Mon 21 September 2009 @ 11:51 a.m. by Ernie

Here's a really insightful piece from the SMH about Telstra and the Aussie NBN.Much of this is ever so applicable on this side of the Tasman too.

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

TUANZ responds to Telecom request for change to undertakings

Posted Fri 18 September 2009 @ 4:42 p.m. by Louis

TUANZ has made a submission on Telecom’s latest request for a variation to its Operational Separation Undertakings. The submission was lodged with the MED today and comes in response to an invitation for submissions issued by ICT Minister Steven Joyce earlier this month. Telecom asked the Minister for an extension of its deadline to transition certain Chorus and Wholesale customer information from Telecom’s shared information systems. The TUANZ Board has decided to accept in principle that Telecom’s...

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

Telecom’s zero-rated Tivo great; but let others in soon

Posted Fri 18 September 2009 @ 1:10 p.m. by Louis

Telecom’s partnership with Hybrid Television Services, who will run Tivo in New Zealand, is great news for its broadband customers and for the uptake of ultra-fast broadband. Tivo launches in November and will enable people to access movies and other TV content over the internet, as well as digital terrestrial free-to-air broadcasts. Under the deal, which is exclusive for now, Telecom will not count any Tivo traffic towards customers’ monthly data allowances. This is just the kind of offer that...

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

Kiwis recycle 966 tonnes of e-waste on eDay

Posted Fri 18 September 2009 @ 11:55 a.m. by Louis

Last weekend’s national eDay event was a great success with over 966 tonnes of old computer equipment and mobile phones collected and diverted from landfills. It was also great fun to be involved in – the entire TUANZ team, including our fearless leader Ernie Newman, was at hand at the Smales Farm collection point on Auckland’s North Shore last Saturday, relieving people of their electronic waste. Over 1,120 vehicles dropped off 46 tonnes of e-waste at the North Shore. The most waste however was...

Categories: Events | Innovation | TUANZ policy

Today's trans Tasman telecommunications tsunami, and David Thodey

Posted Thu 17 September 2009 @ 9:56 a.m. by Ernie

What a day! I’ve been here in Sydney at Paul Budde's trans sector roundtable on usage for fibre networks. I’ve got oceans of notes and I’ll blog about them tomorrow – a very informative and stimulating session. But right now I’m drained. Since I arrived here 24 hours back Steven Joyce has announced the next stage of New Zealand's fibre plan, and the Aussie government, a few hours later, has told Telstra to play nicely or face the consequences. Just another routine day in this dull world of telecommunications! The...

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

Chris O'Connell on ABC Television

Posted Thu 17 September 2009 @ 8:33 a.m. by Ernie

Chris was on Australian TV last night, commenting on how the telecomms sector had survived operational separation "across the deetch" as the reporter expressed it. Check here - you may need to scroll down to "New Zealand telcos shed light on Austraian future."

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Innovation | TUANZ policy

Broadband IS the silver bullet – Rod Drury

Posted Wed 16 September 2009 @ 5:45 p.m. by Louis

ICT innovator and entrepreneur Rod Drury’s latest blog on Kiwiblog is a must-read for anyone with lingering doubts over why New Zealand needs ultrafast broadband now. Drury states unequivocally that “broadband and connecting New Zealand digitally to the rest of the planet IS the biggest silver bullet for turning New Zealand around.” And he backs this claim up with an insightful analysis of what such connectivity means New Zealand’s future. Read it here: http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2009/09/guest_postbroadband_is_the_silver_bullet.htmlAlso...

Categories: Innovation | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

Govt fibre plan to bring fundamental and permanent change

Posted Wed 16 September 2009 @ 11:41 a.m. by Louis

The Government’s ultra-fast broadband investment plan ushers in the biggest and most fundamental change to telecommunications in New Zealand since the privatisation of Telecom 20 years ago. This is TUANZ’s official response to ICT Minister Steven Joyce announcement today of the finalised details of the Government’s $1.5 billion ultra-fast broadband investment initiative. In his announcement, Joyce said access to ultra-fast broadband is part of the essential infrastructure of a productive and growing...

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

Reflections on a Trans Sectoral Life

Posted Wed 16 September 2009 @ 12:05 a.m. by Ernie

I’ve been looking forward to this week. I’m in Sydney tonight ready for Paul Budde’s “Trans Sector Round Table” tomorrow. (Memo to self – if talking about this in the pub tonight, enunciate clearly.) Paul has been spending a huge amount of resource educating the Aussie government, as well as the Obama administration in the USA, on how broadband can be used to improve society, the economy, and people’s lives. He’s coined the term “Trans Sector” to describe the business model that will make next...

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

Conroy to Telstra: separate or be separated

Posted Tue 15 September 2009 @ 4:07 p.m. by Louis

The Australian government wants Telstra to undergo operational separation under new telecommunications regulations announced today. The regulatory reforms, described as historic by Australia’s federal communications minister Senator Stephen Conroy, essentially gives Telstra two options – separate voluntarily or by force.Conroy states Telstra is one of the most highly integrated telecommunications companies in the world across the fixed-line copper, cable and mobile platforms.He says the reforms will...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Regulatory | Vendors | Wireless carriers

Brash and Broadband; Productivity and Parsimony

Posted Fri 11 September 2009 @ 8:42 p.m. by Ernie

Today I spent an interesting 40 minutes with Dr Don Brash who is leading the government's Productivity Task Force. Its goal is to increase productivity and close the income gap with Australia by 2025.(Piece of cake, I hear you say! Yeah, right!)My interest in the topic is broadband-related. Our Board and members are passionate about the potential for ultra-fast connectivity to transform New Zealand's productivity performance. We've been working on that, with sleeves rolled up, since 2002.I invited...

Categories: Education | Events | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | ISPs | Light relief | Wireless carriers

Carrier pigeon faster than South African carrier

Posted Fri 11 September 2009 @ 10:06 a.m. by Louis

This may not be the best to time to say this – but spare a thought for our broadband-hungry cousins in South Africa. With the Springboks in Hamilton, after a brief detour to more sub-tropical climes, with a goal to pummel the All Blacks tomorrow night, it would be understandable not to feel overly sympathetic toward South Africans (especially if you live in Hamilton). However, here is a story that many internet users right here in Godzone would have empathy for, especially in rural areas. A South...

Categories: Fixed line carriers | Light relief

Boost for rural broadband

Posted Thu 10 September 2009 @ 2:10 p.m. by Louis

Within the next six years, 93% of rural schools with have access to fibre fuelled broadband speeds of at least 100Mbps, while the remaining 7% will get speeds of at least 10Mbps. At the same time, over 80% of rural households will have access to broadband with speeds of at least 5Mbps, with the remainder getting speeds of at least 1Mbps. These are the targets of a far better funded rural broadband strategy announced today by Communications and IT Minister Steven Joyce, which he says will get fast...

Categories: Education | Events | Innovation | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

No new MTR undertaking offers, please: Joyce

Posted Wed 9 September 2009 @ 4:00 p.m. by Louis

Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce does not want any further commercial offers from carriers in an attempt to stave off regulation when he considers the Commerce Commission’s final report on mobile termination access services. Announcing the process he will follow in making his decision on the Commerce Commission’s final recommendations on MTRs, expected at the end of the year, Joyce said he does not want to receive commercial offers that could be implemented in lieu...

Categories: Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

Operational Separation Undertakings - should Telecom be allowed breathing space?

Posted Wed 9 September 2009 @ 3:50 p.m. by Ernie

Whether to support or oppose Telecom's application to the Minister for a number of variations to its undertakings?That will be one of the most challenging decisions for TUANZ for some time.In a widely-anticipated move, Minister Joyce has invited interested parties to submit on Telecom's proposed Variations, with a deadline of Friday week, 18 September.Now in general TUANZ believes Telecom has acted pretty honourably in implementing the spirit and letter of Operational Separation, despite its being...

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

Broadband immediate priority in infrastructure plan

Posted Wed 9 September 2009 @ 3:21 p.m. by Louis

The Government is seeking consultation on the development of the first National Infrastructure Plan for New Zealand. The National Infrastructure Unit has released a discussion paper on the state of New Zealand's infrastructure and has invited selected stakeholders to make submissions to help develop the National Infrastructure Plan. Announcing the plan, Infrastructure Minister Bill English said the Government is serious about getting New Zealand's infrastructure right. “That means improving the...

Categories: Innovation | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

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