MEDIA RELEASE
29 February 2008
Broadband Investment Forum
In response to the challenge laid down by Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe late last
year, 25 senior representatives from major telecommunications providers, utility operators, industry organisations,
institutional investors, and central and local government met in Auckland yesterday to discuss a range of investment
models for incentivising broadband investment.
Broadband Investment Forum Chair Mr Stephen Tindall thanked representatives from the telecommunications industry for
squarely confronting a critical issue facing New Zealand – how to accelerate the deployment of advanced broadband
infrastructure.
“All parties acknowledged the critical importance of broadband to the country’s economic and social aspirations,”
Stephen Tindall said.
“While there was agreement on the vision of improving the country’s broadband infrastructure, it is fair to note that
there was a robust debate on the most appropriate means of incentivising investment. The participants explored a range
of options, including regulatory relief, structural separation, establishing a collective funding vehicle to invest in
infrastructure, and government ownership of infrastructure.”
The Broadband Investment Forum will be meeting on a bi-monthly basis henceforth, with discussion on key issues also
facilitated via the Ministry of Economic Development’s website at www.med.govt.nz/broadband-investment.
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