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Commerce Commission calls for responses to consultation paper on Chorus’ unbundled bitstream access offer, aims to publish draft decision in August.
New Zealand’s competition watchdog on Thursday announced the start of a consultation into the non-pricing terms of Chorus’ wholesale offer for access to its copper network.
The Commerce Commission published a consultation document designed to help it ascertain whether Chorus’ regulated unbundled bitstream access (UBA) offer meets the needs of the end users. Specifically, it is addressing the standard terms definition (STD) of the offer, which covers the technical features of the service Chorus provides, as well as the price.
The Commission tackled the pricing issue last year, publishing its final decision on the wholesale prices Chorus is allowed to charge for UBA and unbundled copper local loop (UCLL) in December.
The UBA STD was set in 2007, before the separation of Chorus from incumbent operator Spark, then known as Telecom Corp. As a result, the non-price terms now need to be reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose in today’s market.
"While the regulated UBA service has evolved over time, we recognise that there remains some uncertainty over what Chorus is required to provide," said New Zealand’s telecom commissioner Stephen Gale, in a statement.
"By clarifying the technical features our aim is to ensure the regulated service remains suitable for typical broadband customers, and allows Chorus to develop commercial variants for specific user groups," he explained.
Responses to the consultation are due by the end of the working day on 5 May. The Commerce Commission aims to publish its draft decision in August, open up the process for further comment the following month, and issue a final decision in November.
