New Zealand - Regulatory Environment - Telecommunications Act

Synopsis

This report outlines the Telecommunications Act in New Zealand including its framework, governing bodies and surrounding developments. The operational separation of Telecom New Zealand came into effect on 31 March 2008, with the telco implementing a government-backed plan which has seen it split into three divisions: retail, wholesale and network operations. The determination set requirements for Access Network Services to provide services over existing copper, and future fibre and wireless access networks, ensuring comprehensive service coverage and ensuring that the unit is forward-looking and future-proofed.

An overview and analysis of this major government reform is also provided. Other regulatory developments are provided in separate reports: New Zealand - Regulatory Environment - Local Loop Unbundling & TSO and New Zealand - Regulatory Environment - Mobile, Wholesale and Number Portability. This report was archived in 2010 and was last updated in late 2008.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Telecommunications Act 2001
  • 2.1 Framework of the Telecommunications Act
  • 2.2 The Commerce Commission
  • 2.3 Standards New Zealand and the Telecommunications Carriers Forum
• 3. Operational separation of Telecom New Zealand
  • 3.1 Background
  • 3.2 Proposed operational separation model
    • 3.2.1 Access Network Services division
    • 3.2.2 Wholesale unit
    • 3.2.3 Independent Oversight Group (IOG)
  • 3.3 Operational separation process
  • 3.4 Telecom’s amended Separation Plan
  • 3.5 Government’s Amending Determination
  • 3.6 Telecom’s Separation Plan rejected
  • 3.7 Telecom’s operational separation formalised
  • 3.8 Accounting requirements under operational separation
• 4. Related reports