InternetNZ welcomes plan for Managed Spectrum Park

InternetNZ welcomes plans for Managed Spectrum Park

Media Release – 10 September 2008 – InternetNZ (the Internet Society of New Zealand Inc) welcomes the Government’s finalising of plans for a Managed Spectrum Park (MSP) in the 2.5GHz band.

MSP is a block of radio spectrum set aside for shared use. Public consultation on the Government’s plan for an MSP closed in July and interested parties are now expected to be able to apply for a slice of the spectrum by the end of this year.

InternetNZ Executive Director Keith Davidson says the allocation of managed spectrum park will encourage the efficient use of radio spectrum and promote provision of wireless broadband services by local and regional operators.

“Much of rural New Zealand remains poorly serviced by wired infrastructure and the opening up of this managed spectrum should help to improve the availability of wireless broadband services in regional New Zealand.

“Wireless networking solutions provide useful last mile connectivity. These can enable very high speed connections in areas previously seen as uneconomic and, in some cases, will seed markets for more permanent phases of connectivity using wired/cabled techniques.”

The Society is pleased the MSP will be technology agnostic. This is important, given the rate of technological change, and will allow a more fertile environment for investment and innovation by local operators. A Use-or-Lose provision has also been introduced, which InternetNZ supports.

InternetNZ congratulates the MED on the process it has gone through to plan the release and management of the MSP. “We will watch with interest to see what benefits accrue to rural users and look forward to the issuing of licences in 2009,” says Davidson.

ENDS

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