Tuanz signs Crown Fibre Holdings, Pacific Fibre, others
Lobby group buiks up with high-profile new members.
The Telecommunications Users Association this afternoon revealed the lobby group had signed some high-profile new members.
Tuanz business development manager Katherine Hall said the lobby group has signed Crown Fibre Holdings - the state-owned company charged with recommending partners in the government's $1.35 billion ultrafast broadband (UFB) project, and driving co-investment.
A second key signing is Pacific Fibre, the wannabe Southern Cross Cable contender that recently signed ANZ as its lead bank (and part-funder).
Other new Tuanz member include Catalyst, the Wellington-based open source IT services and web development shop that boasts around 100 staff and numbers Fairfax among its larger clents; the mysterious Future Tech Labs and Connect Global.
Telecom and 2degrees hold non-voting corporate memberships. TelstraClear and Vodafone are hold-outs.
Tuanz lobbies on behalf of its members, most of whom are large corporate buyers of telecommunications services. Recent efforts include its support for mobile termination rate regulation, and a campaign to press carriers on international roaming rates.
Asked if his organisation was gaining members, chief executive Paul Brislen said it was too early to tell.
Rather than a rolling effort, Tuanz has an annual, month-long membershiip drive. Mr Brislen said results still hung in the balance as it waited for invoices to be returned.
NBR understands a corporate membership costs around $6000; an individual membership in the region of $200 to $300.
Tuanz will hold its annual conference next Wednesday at Te Papa in Wellington next Wednesday.
Cole Slawson
Fri, 13 May 2011
Fri, 13 May 2011
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Tuanz signs Crown Fibre Holdings, Pacific Fibre, others
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