Investigation Gets Underway

Investigation Gets Underway

The Commerce Commission's investigations into whether or not to amend the terms of the current roaming and co-location services have now formally commenced, with the Commission's decision to investigate under Schedule 3 of the Telecommunications Act 2001 published in today's New Zealand Gazette.

The Commission will request initial submissions from interested parties when it releases an issues paper next month. The Commission will then issue a draft report to indicate its initial thinking, and will hold a conference before releasing its final report.

Timetable for the Commission's investigation
Please note this timetable is indicative only and subject to change.

Publication of the Issues Paper - 15 December 2006
Closing date for written submissions - 9 February 2007
Publication of Draft Report(s) - Mid May 2007
Closing date for written submissions on Draft Report(s) - End June 2007
Closing date for cross submissions - Mid July 2007
Public conference on Draft Report(s) and written submissions - End July 2007

Background

On 10 May 2006, the Commission announced that it would examine the reasons for lack of new entry into the cellular mobile services market as a prelude to deciding whether or not to commence an investigation into possible changes to the regulatory framework.

The Commission held a series of meetings with parties who have a material interest in the mobile market and reviewed the state of competition in the market for mobile services.

On 10 October 2006, the Commission announced that there are reasonable grounds to investigate:

- amending the terms of the national roaming service;
- moving the national roaming service from a specified to a designated service; and
- moving the co-location service from a specified to a designated service.

Ends

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