Structural Separation submission released

Structural Separation submission released

InternetNZ today released the submission it lodged with the Ministry of Economic Development, responding to their consultation on the regulatory implications of structural separation of Telecom.

“InternetNZ supports the concept of structural separation, and has advocated for it since 2006. The right solution would lead to a clean market structure, supportive of the Government’s ultra-fast broadband plans,” says InternetNZ Chief Executive Vikram Kumar.

“Our submission makes the point that the split of assets and activities outlined in the MED document, similar to that in Telecom’s proposal, can’t deliver the slashing of regulation that Telecom is seeking. It does not represent a clean separation.

“The proposal leaves services that need regulating in the ServTel company that Telecom hopes to see free of regulation.

“The most important thing is that the long term interests of users come first. A short term solution that stores up competition problems for later regulators to unpick isn’t good for anyone.

“We look forward to seeing what others have submitted in response to the Ministry’s paper, and will consider making cross-submissions if useful new material comes to light.

“Finally, we thank the Government for the chance to submit on this issue: the chance for public scrutiny of these complicated issues helps make sure good decisions are made,” Vikram Kumar says.

The InternetNZ submission is available online: http://tinyurl.com/2bsvhkc

ENDS

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