Telecommunications Act: Regulated services

Issued 16 November 2005

Telecommunications Act: Commission decides to investigate extension of regulated services

The Commission has today released its decision to investigate whether to extend the period of regulation of the thirteen telecommunications services originally incorporated within the Telecommunications Act.

The Commission has decided that there are reasonable grounds to investigate ten of the thirteen services, including the interconnection, retail resale, national roaming and number portability services, and co-location on cellular mobile transmission sites. Once the investigations are complete, the Commission will recommend to the Minister of Communications whether or not to extend the period of regulation for up to a further two years.

The three services for which the Commission does not consider there are reasonable grounds to investigate an extension of the period of regulation are the national toll-free telephone number portability service, Telecom's fixed PSTN to mobile carrier pre-selection service, and co-location of equipment for fixed telecommunications services at sites used by Broadcast Communications Limited.

The Commission considers that market indications are that access to these three services is not a source of concern to actual or prospective access seekers. Regulation of these services will therefore lapse in December 2006.

The decision is available on the Commission's website at: http://www.comcom.govt.nz/IndustryRegulation/Telecommunications/Investig ations/reviewofregulatedservices.aspx

The Commission will begin conducting market and competition analyses in relation to the ten services under investigation. The Commission will also seek comment on whether amendments should be made to any of the ten services it has decided to investigate.

The Commission may at any time initiate an investigation into whether to recommend that various aspects of a regulated service be amended. The Commission invites proposals for amendments from interested parties by 21 December 2005.

ENDS

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