InternetNZ releases Cabinetisation report

InternetNZ releases Cabinetisation report

Media Release

18 January 2008

InternetNZ (the Internet Society of New Zealand Inc) today releases the attached report commissioned from Amos Aked Swift (AAS), which investigates and makes recommendations related to Cabinetisation and Local Loop Unbundling.

InternetNZ is still considering its own policy position in respect of these issues. In the meantime we recommend industry and public discussion of the recommendations in the report.

“Cabinetisation will drive fibre optic cable roll-out closer to the home, and this raises a number of issues for the Government in ensuring a level playing field for competitors regardless of whether services are delivered on old copper technologies or new fibre,” says InternetNZ Executive Director Keith Davidson.

“The proposals in this report would appear to provide a good starting point as to how these issues might be handled.”

The key proposals in the report are:

• Regulation must be more proactive especially with regard to changing technologies.

• The Long Term Benefit of End-users (LTBE) must be defined and used to drive regulatory decisions.

• Copper loops that Telecom intends to remove should instead be offered to new entrants.

• Anti-competitive outcomes must be treated as anti-competitive intent.

• There must be equivalent access to Telecom facilities in the exchange, the cabinet and any other aggregation points that develop within the network.

• The implications of Government investment in infrastructure need to be quantified quickly in respect to penetration of fibre to the home (FTTH) and LTBE.

“InternetNZ hopes the AAS report helps provide a constructive background for further debate within the industry,” Davidson says.

ENDS

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