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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