New Zealand - Regulatory Environment - Mobile, Wholesale and Number Portability

Synopsis

This report provides an overview of regulatory developments in New Zealand in the areas of mobile, wholesale access and number portability. Sweeping government reforms finally paved the way for an improvement in wholesale access for Telecom New Zealand’s competitors via local loop unbundling.

Number portability was officially launched in New Zealand for both mobile and fixed services in 2007. In October 2010 the monthly mobile numbers ported continued the trend that started in 2009 where the amount of ported numbers doubled from the historical levels of 2-3,000 numbers per month. The dramatic change was due to the launch of two new mobile networks – Telecom XT and 2degrees. The continuation of 10,000 or so numbers ported monthly will no doubt continue in the short term, fuelled by the launch of new smartphones, the iPhone4 and a mobile broadband network offering by 2degrees.

This report was archived in late 2010 and will not be updated anymore. Current regulatory developments are provided in the separate report: New Zealand - Telecommunications Regulatory Overview.

Background information on these issues can be found in a separate reports: New Zealand - Regulatory Environment - Local Loop Unbundling and TSO Background Report, New Zealand - Regulatory Environment - Telecommunications Act and New Zealand - Regulatory Environment – Mobile, Wholesale and Number Portability.