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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

"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

A great start for the new year

Posted Thu 21 January 2010 @ 12:18 p.m. by Ernie

I’m back! I’ve been out of the office, and New Zealand, for over 6 weeks – the longest time away I’ve had in my career. Spent most of it chilling out in an apartment in Barcelona. Just living the local lifestyle - though we tended to keep the lid on the red wine bottle until lunchtime rather than join the diehard locals in sipping over breakfast. It was great to get the re-charge. It left me with several strong conclusions, some of which are about telecommunications but most in a wider context: We...

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

NZ has some of the world’s lowest use of mobile phones - Stanton

Posted Thu 21 January 2010 @ 11:22 a.m. by Ernie

John Stanton, Chairman of Trilogy which is the major holder of 2degrees Mobile, has been in New Zealand these past couple of days. This morning addressed a gathering of business leaders in Auckland – surprisingly well attended considering the time of year, though you could see the moths flying out of some of the business suits. He’s an immensely successful guy who’s made his pile by taking on monopolies and duopolies in the wireless industry. His address covered everything from the current plight...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get updates from Rural Broadband Symposium on Twitter

Posted Thu 12 November 2009 @ 1:13 p.m. by Louis

Follow updates from the 2009 TUANZ Rural Broadband Symposium live on Twitter. For the most active stream of tweets from the event which is currently being held in Rotorua, follow Computerworld editor Rob O’Neill here: robonz, or Internet NZ here: InternetNZ I will also be tweeting from the event, but sporadically: louisvanwyk Or search the tag #TUANZ to find other delegates twittering live.

Categories: Broadband | Events

NEW - Fibre to the home Council to meet in Auckland

Posted Tue 10 November 2009 @ 1:59 p.m. by Ernie

The Fibre to the Home Council is to hold its first-ever meeting in New Zealand next week, reflecting the intensity of interest in this part of the world. There is space for a few professional participants to take part - contact John Nixon at this link to inquire.The Council is an increasingly effective body with chapters in Europe and Asia Pacific. I attended one of their meetings in Europe a few years ago and came back pumped up with the potential of the technology. I have no doubt this inaugural...

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

Budde roundtable to focus on govt fibre plan

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

The upcoming BuddeComm Roundtable in Auckland and Wellington will explore what the next step is for the Government’s planned ultra-fast broadband roll-out. Hosted by world renowned telecommunications consultant Paul Budde the roundtable will be held in Auckland on Monday, 30 November and Wellington on Tuesday, 1 December. During the morning session, the various aspects of the Government’s plan will be presented, together with an overview of similar developments in Australia, the USA and Europe....

Categories: Broadband | Events | Fixed line carriers | Regulatory

Catch Ernie at first NZ Comverse seminar

Posted Fri 6 November 2009 @ 11:12 a.m. by Louis

TUANZ chief executive Ernie Newman will be a guest speaker at the first Comverse APAC Vision Seminar to be held in New Zealand. Comverse is hosting the seminar in Auckland on 17 November to mark its recent entry into the local market, which has also seen it join TUANZ as a member. The company is a leading provider of software and systems enabling value-added services for voice, messaging, mobile internet and mobile advertising; converged billing and active customer management; and IP communications....

Categories: Events | Innovation | Vendors

Does Education Need a Rocket?

Posted Wed 4 November 2009 @ 1:05 p.m. by Ernie

“There’s a danger that New Zealand schools could become islands of pencil and paper in a digital world.” It was an unscripted throwaway line in the midst of a presentation by the Ministry of Economic Development’s Brad Ward. He was speaking to the Korea Australia New Zealand Broadband Summit here in Auckland this morning. And in my opinion he’s right on the money! Brad, along with colleague Nick Manning, gave an informative and professional overview of New Zealand’s plans for ultra fast broadband....

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

Crown Fibre co formed; board announced

Posted Thu 29 October 2009 @ 3:23 p.m. by Louis

The Government has just announced the formation of Crown Fibre Holdings Limited and unveiled its inaugural board. Crown Fibre Holdings is the company that will manage the Crown’s investment in ultra-fast broadband infrastructure over the next 10 years. Simon Allen, former New Zealand Exchange (NZX) Chair and founder and former managing director of ABN AMRO New Zealand, will lead teh new board as chair. He is joined by board members Andrew Body, Miriam Dean QC, Dr Murray Milner and Keith Tempest. Making...

Categories: Events | Fixed line carriers | Regulatory | Vendors

TUANZ goes rural for latest video blog

Posted Thu 29 October 2009 @ 2:56 p.m. by Louis

It’s taken a while, but we have finally recorded our latest video blog. This time round TUANZ boss Ernie Newman talks about getting rural New Zealand connected to broadband and tells us why this is important for New Zealand as a whole. He also has an enticing offer for agriculture buffs attending the upcoming TUANZ Rural Broadband Symposium being held in Rotorua on 12 and 13 November. Watch to the end of the video and see if you can answer the question puzzling Ernie… To watch the short video,...

Categories: Events | TUANZ policy

Cell phone ban looming – essential reading for motorists

Posted Tue 27 October 2009 @ 12:09 p.m. by Louis

The New Zealand Police has outlined how it will enforce the new road rules that come into force this Sunday, November 1, that will ban the use of a handheld mobile phone while driving. In this article on the New Zealand Herald website, a police spokesperson says that while frontline officers will be allowed to use their judgement during an initial “bedding in” period, dangerous texting will not be tolerated. While it is good to see the Police will not go easy on the extremely dangerous, and incredibly...

Categories: Education | Events | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

In support of E-day

Posted Mon 26 October 2009 @ 7:05 p.m. by Ernie

The 2020 Trust - the people who among other good works run the annual e-day collection of electronic waste - are an energetic, driven and absolutely ethical bunch who have been in the business a fair number of years. I know several of them well - Laurence Zwimpfer, Earl Mardle, and Don Hollander to name but three.They will be absolutely mortified at this story that broke today casting doubt on how the waste from this year's E-day - just 6 weeks ago - was disposed of.If it proves that the Trust...

Categories: Education | Events | Vendors

Major milestone reached in fibre roll-out

Posted Wed 21 October 2009 @ 2:01 p.m. by Louis

Despite some anxiety about slow progress early on, TUANZ was very pleased to see the Government kicking off its search for partners in its ultra-fast broadband initiative today. Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce today released an “Invitation to Participate” in the partner selection process for its $1.5 billion investment initiative. The Invitation to Participate (ITP) document provides the terms and conditions of the government’s investment, and includes important...

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

NZTA clarifies rule on car cell phone ban

Posted Wed 14 October 2009 @ 2:52 p.m. by Louis

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has released a set of clear messages to clarify the new road user rule that restricts the use of mobile phones in vehicles. The new Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule 2009 comes into effect on 1 November and according to the Ministry of Transport is designed to discourage motorists from talking on their hand-held cell phones or texting while driving. Calling is permitted provided the phone is either mounted in a device or can be operated completely...

Categories: Events | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

Report on MED Workshop on Fibre Deployment

Posted Tue 13 October 2009 @ 8:13 a.m. by Ernie

Yesterday TUANZ Chairman Chris O'Connell and I attended the first of the MED's series of three seminars to present its paper "Facilitating the Deployment of Fibre Infrastructure.”There was a mixture of good and bad.On the good side, the paper itself is a very solid start in identifying and dealing with a wide range of complex issues - land access. differing forms of infrastructure, RMA and many more. In a sense the paper is the first part of the National Digital Architecture that TUANZ...

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

2degrees unveils the Seven Myths of Telecommunications at October After 5s

Posted Wed 7 October 2009 @ 4:16 p.m. by Louis

2009 is set to be one of the most exciting years in the mobile market in New Zealand ever. 2degrees, New Zealand’s third mobile operator, launched at last, while we are finally making headway on the issue of mobile termination rates. These two topics will be subject of the October round of TUANZ After 5s hosted by 2degrees. Join us as 2degrees CEO Eric Hertz delivers a view from the top of the plucky newcomer’s plans for the future and unveils the “Seven Myths of Telecommunications in New Zealand”....

Categories: Events | Regulatory | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers

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