Summary of ICT Policy Initiatives

The Commerce Commission issues its draft standard terms determination on the price and non-price terms on which Telecom must make the regulated sub-loop related services available to other telecommunications providers. These are the services required to allow companies to provide services to their customers from Telecom’s roadside cabinets.

Government launches the Digital Strategy 2.0.

The vision for the Strategy is for New Zealanders to become leaders in the digital world. The purpose of Digital Strategy 2.0 is to:

• provide a national vision;
• highlight opportunities and challenges;
• provide a call to action;
• articulate the government’s role; and
• outline the actions through which government will fulfil that role

The $340 million Broadband Investment Fund is launched.

The Fund will be used to accelerate broadband investment in three critical areas:

• facilitating high speed broadband to businesses and entities such as municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals in urban centres; 
• extending the reach of broadband into underserved regions, particularly in the rural sector; and
• improving the resilience of New Zealand’s international connections.

The Commerce Commission releases its draft standard terms determination on the non-price terms for co-location on cellular mobile transmission sites (the Mobile Co-location Service).

The Mobile Co-location Service allows the equipment of a mobile network operator to be installed on another operator’s cell masts. Co-location helps reduce network infrastructure costs for existing and potential mobile service providers by providing for the sharing of network infrastructure.

The Commerce Commission issues its final determinations on the price and non-price terms for the backhaul services that support the unbundled copper local loop (UCLL) and unbundled bitstream (UBA) broadband services.

These services will allow Telecom’s competitors to get access to transmission capacity between Telecom’s local exchanges or data switches, and the competitors’ networks.

These determinations follow the Commission’s final determinations for the UCLL and Co-location services released in November 2007 and for the UBA Service released in December 2007. The Sub-loop Unbundling Determination is expected to be released by the end of 2008.

A discussion paper on the operation of a Managed Spectrum Park (MSP) in the 2.5 GHz radio spectrum band is released.

The Digital Development Council is launched.

The Broadband Investment Fund is announced as part of Budget 2008.

The contestable fund is aimed at facilitating high speed broadband connections to businesses in urban centres and key users in the health and education sectors, to extend the reach of broadband into underserved regions, and to improve the resilience of New Zealand's international connections.

The Draft Digital Strategy 2.0 is released for public comment.

The Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Bill is passed.

The Bill will update and clarify how copyright applies to new technologies in today's digital environment, promote a modern legal framework that guides the protection and use of copyright material, ensure the effective operation of the Act in the face of emerging technologies, and ensure that the Copyright Act remains fair and effective in the face of emerging needs of a dynamic and technology-supporting economy.

A further 40 area spectrum licenses in the 3.5 GHz band are allocated for local and regional wireless broadband access.

The operational separation of Telecom New Zealand becomes legally binding.

Along with improving competitive market settings going forward, which will in turn result in investment in broadband infrastructure and more advanced broadband services being offered, Telecom New Zealand specifically have entered into an enforceable agreement to:

• install more than 2250 cabinets equipped with DSL capability by 31 December 2010 and 3500 cabinets by 31 December 2011;
• ensure that 99 per cent of lines in urban areas will have at least 10 Mbps broadband speed capability; and
• ensure that at least 15 per cent of fixed network non-rural lines will be provided by VoIP technology via Telecom's next generation network by 31 December 2012, 40 per cent by 31 December 2015, and 100 per cent by 31 December 2020.

The Commerce Commission issues its final recommendation to the Minister on the regulation of mobile roaming.

It recommends that the mobile roaming service not be designated, which means that it will not be subject to price regulation. The Commission is also recommending that the definition of the service be amended to make it compatible with modern technology.

The Commerce Commission issues notices requiring Telecom to submit a standard terms proposal for the following sub-loop related services:

• unbundled copper local loop from Telecom's distribution cabinets;
• backhaul from Telecom's distribution cabinet to the exchange;
• co-location services at Telecom's distribution cabinets.

The Commerce Commission announces that it intends to use its sector monitoring powers under the Telecommunications Act 2001 to proactively initiate a study into Next Generation Networks.

Cabinet decides that regulations should be drafted for four proposed National Environmental Standards for telecommunications facilities.

These national standards will provide certainty across the country for permitted activities within the Resource Management Act. Later this year, the government will introduce the Utilities Access Amendment Bill which will provide network operators with certainty in their engagement with multiple local authorities as well as providing greater clarity when seeking access to motorways or rail corridors for infrastructure building.

The Local Government New Zealand Broadband Forum is held.

The forum was held to clarify local government's roles in broadband deployment and the overall digital strategy agenda within local communities. During the workshop, councils were given the opportunity to provide input into the Broadband Friendly Protocols and the Know How Guide on Broadband Infrastructure. These tools are being developed to facilitate the deployment of faster, more affordable broadband to New Zealand communities.

The draft National Code of Practice for Utilities' Access to the Road and Rail Corridors is launched.

The Commerce Commission releases draft determinations on the price and non-price terms for the backhaul services that support the unbundled copper local loop (UCLL) and unbundled bitstream (UBA) broadband services.

These services will allow Telecom's competitors to get access to transmission capacity between Telecom's local exchanges or data switches, and their networks.

The Commerce Commission launches standard terms determination processes for mobile co-location and sub-loop related services.

The auction for spectrum in the 2.3GHz and 2.5GHz bands successfully concludes.

The radio spectrum auction is a critical element in ensuring that mobile and fixed wireless services are available to extend broadband coverage, especially in rural areas.

The Commerce Commission issues its final determination on the price and non-price terms on which Telecom must make the unbundled bitstream access (UBA) service available to other telecommunications providers.

The UBA service is a wholesale service that allows telecommunications companies to supply a range of broadband services to retail customers.

The Digital Future Summit 2.0 is held. The Minister challenges the ICT industry to step up to the broadband investment challenge. As a result, a Broadband Investment Forum of business, finance and sector leaders has been established.

Voluntary consumer complaints resolution scheme fully implemented.

The Commerce Commission issues its final determinations on the price and non-price terms on which Telecom must make unbundled copper local loop and co-location regulated services available to other telecommunications providers.

The Commission's determinations are complete commercial arrangements which will allow competitors to take the services from Telecom without the need for any separate agreements.

Cabinet endorses a Common Framework for State Sector Broadband Demand Aggregation.
This is an important step in achieving the benefits of demand aggregation, such as increased competition and the stimulation of new capital investment in broadband network infrastructure.

The Minister releases his Determination of additional requirements for the operational separation of Telecom.

The Unsolicited Electronic Message Act 2007 comes into effect.

The purposes of the Act are to:

• prohibit unsolicited commercial electronic messages (spam) with a New Zealand link (i.e. messages sent to, from or within New Zealand);
• require commercial electronic messages to include accurate information about the person who authorised the sending of the message and a functional unsubscribe facility to enable the recipient to instruct the sender that no further messages are to be sent to the recipient;
• prohibit address-harvesting software being used to create address lists for sending unsolicited commercial electronic messages; and
• deter people from using information and communication technologies inappropriately.

20 August 2007

A discussion document for public consultation on the TSO review is released.

The review is addressing three fundamental areas:

• changes to TSO requirements for the supply of local residential telephone service;
• whether the TSO framework has a role in improving the supply of broadband service in rural areas; and
• changes to the rules and processes of the TSO framework to improve their effectiveness.

Number portability is introduced, allowing telephone users switching companies to retain their phone number.

64 area spectrum licences in the 3.5 GHz band are allocated for local and regional broadband wireless access (40 further licences allocated in March 2008).

The Minister issues a terms of reference for a review of the Telecommunications Service Obligation (TSO) framework.

The Telecommunications Amendment Act 2006 is introduced. This marks the beginning of a new regulatory regime in New Zealand in line with international best practice.

Key regulated services introduced: local loop unbundling, subloop unbundling, and unrestricted bitstream unbundling.

The Amendment also enhances regulatory processes to ensure the Telecommunications Commissioner can effectively implement the regulation of these services through Standard Terms Determinations, and empowers the Commissioner to effectively monitor industry developments and ensure regulatory compliance.

The Act also allows for an undertakings regime in lieu of regulation.

KAREN (Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network) goes live.

Five Broadband Challenge Fund applications totalling $16.3 million for urban fibre network projects are approved.

KAREN, a new high speed, high capacity network for New Zealand tertiary institutions, research organisations, libraries, wananga, schools and museums, is launched.

Five Broadband Challenge Fund applications for rural and under-served communities are approved.

In response to the Telecommunications Stocktake, the government announces a package of measures to deal with New Zealand's poor broadband performance.

A discussion paper on the Strategic Consideration of ICT Security and Confidence in New Zealand is released.

The Minister for Communications and Information Technology commissions the Telecommunications Stocktake.

Government approves the Government Shared Network (GSN) project.

The GSN replaces and rationalises duplicated services currently employed by government agencies and delivers a suite of converged voice, video and data transmission at a lower unit cost than that currently available to many agencies through existing supply arrangements.

A discussion paper on the Review of Issues Affecting Utilities and Road, Rail and Motorway Corridors is released.

Government launches the Digital Strategy, which sets out the importance of advanced broadband performance for New Zealand's transformation to an innovative and productive economy and society.

The Broadband Challenge Fund is announced to promote high-speed capacity in regional centres and support innovative ways of making broadband available to smaller communities.

$1.44 million is made available to extend the reach of Project PROBE, with priority for regions where community coverage has been harder to achieve.

15 November 2004

Government launches the Telecommunications Relay Service for meeting the telephone communication needs of deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired people.

Project PROBE (Provincial Broadband Extension) is announced as part of the 2002 Budget to ensure that all isolated rural schools in New Zealand have access to broadband internet services.