Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Closing the copper network
A year ago I posted When
should we rip out the copper network? It's too early to
name a date today, but following
this discussion on Linkedin, I
predicted:
As the law stands today, a street has copper even if only one house uses it. The price is regulated by the Commerce Commission and I guess it will rise steadily as the cost is covered by fewer and fewer subscribers. I don't think we'll hit that point.My prediction is a cut off point will be announced before the end of this Parliament.
Why do I say that? Because setting a cut-off date, even if it is many years away, will give telecommunications investors some certainty. And there may be a political need to do that before the end of this Parliament.
Also, Labour's Claire Curran has said her party is interested in setting a date. The current government might want to get there first.
This post first appeared at billbennett.co.nz as Closing the copper network
Bill Bennett
Freelance journalist.
Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.
His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast.
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