Vodafone hails new telecommunication service era

Media Release
28 July 2008

Vodafone hails new era in telecommunication services

Vodafone welcomes the Telecommunications Carriers Forum report on the future structure of the TSO and is delighted to see broad industry support for technology neutrality and a contestable process for providing TSO services.

Vodafone’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Tom Chignell, says the TCF report is the culmination of many months hard work by all concerned.

“ There is strong agreement across the TCF that this will improve service for customers and avoid the current issues that come from compensating Telecom based on theoretical cost models for one company’s network.”

The report recommends opening up the provision of TSO services to competition through a contestable tender process and makes the provision of TSO services technology neutral for the first time.

“The only remaining point of difference is that we believe any customer who already has two or more networks vying for their business cannot be classed as ‘commercially non-viable’ and should not be part of a tender process,” says Chignell. Vodafone believes around 70% of so-called ‘commercially non-viable customers’ are already covered by both Telecom fixed line and Vodafone’s mobile network, both of which are able to offer TSO services.

Chignell says Vodafone commends the report to the Minister and hopes to see the recommended solution implemented as soon as possible

ENDS

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