Telecom changes reduction date for MTRs to align with Vodafone
The ongoing issue of whether mobile termination rates (MTRs) should be regulated continued today as Telecom announced it would change its proposed date for reductions.
The ongoing issue of whether mobile termination rates (MTRs) should be regulated continued today as Telecom announced it would change its proposed date for reductions.
In December, NBR reported that Telecom and Vodafone were still pushing for a commercial deal on MTRs instead of 2degrees’ proposal to develop a regulatory framework set up by the Commerce Commission.
Today's announcement revealed that although the commission has yet to receive Telecom’s revised undertakings, the company has indicated it would align the starting dates for MTRs reductions with the dates Vodafone proposed in its undertakings.
Telecommunications commissioner Ross Patterson said this new information would be assessed and included in the commission’s final report for Communications Minister Steve Joyce. Telecom’s last minute revision of its undertakings it not expected to delay the report that is due at the end of the month.
The commission stated it would make no further comment before the final report on whether MTRs should be regulated. The commission stated it would also not comment on whether Telecom and/or Vodafone’s undertakings should be recommended for acceptance in lieu of regulation.
Vodafone has proposed to start reductions as of October 1. Telecom’s has now proposed to change its starting date for reductions from April 1 to October 1, to bring them in line with Vodafone’s.
The revised undertakings from Telecom will be available on the commission’s website under Industry Regulation/Telecommunications/Investigations/Mobile Termination Access Services
Kelly Gregor
Wed, 11 Jul 2018
Wed, 11 Jul 2018
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Telecom changes reduction date for MTRs to align with Vodafone
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