Transparency Needed On Broadband

A revised proposal by Telecom to take the lion’s share of the government’s $1.5 billion ultrafast broadband plan is big on rhetoric but light on detail, demonstrating a lack of transparency and certainty on how this major piece of infrastructure will be delivered, says Labour Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran.

The confidentiality required by the tendering process managed by Crown Fibre Holdings means that the taxpayer has no idea what discussions have been carried out behind the scenes around Telecom’s refined proposal, Clare Curran said.

“For months now, Telecom has been keeping the Government and the country guessing on what its plans are for structural separation.

“For months now the Government has shut down public discussion and debate on how the ultrafast broadband scheme will be rolled out through its closed tender process and the confidentiality demands imposed by Crown Fibre Holdings,” Clare Curran said.

“There have been delays and more delays brought about by the complexity of the Government’s policy. Today’s announcement by Telecom shows they are committed to a bid around ultrafast broadband, but there are now questions about just what deal may have been struck and what their terms are.

“Labour has serious concerns about the role an entrenched monopoly could play in slowing down the roll out of broadband in New Zealand and the effect on the goal of affordable and accessible broadband services for New Zealanders.”

ENDS

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