TTK
17/12/2015 10:34
GENERAL
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1034 HRS TeamTalk Limited
GENERAL: TTK: Rural areas hit by ComCom copper decision
MEDIA STATEMENT
TeamTalk Group
Managing Director David Ware
For Immediate Release
17 December 2015
Rural areas hit by ComCom copper decision
The Commerce Commission's latest decision on copper pricing will make it more
expensive to provide faster broadband at a cheaper price, particularly for
rural users.
TeamTalk Group Managing Director David Ware says the latest Commission
decision will put pressure on group subsidiary Farmside to review pricing.
Early estimates suggest Farmside's DSL customers could face a rise of more
than $7 per month while customers with DSL and homeline services could cop
more than $10 extra on their monthly bill because of the changes.
Farmside is a leading reseller of Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) services
but copper connections often remain the most logical and practical solution
for those in hard-to-reach places.
"The Commerce Commission is acting like the Grinch that stole Christmas.
This is a kick in the guts for us and particularly our rural customers who
don't have fibre as a choice" says Mr Ware.
"At a time when the Government is dithering over how to deliver better
broadband to our most remote communities the Commerce watchdog decides to
ramp up copper prices and make it more expensive in favour of Government
subsidised urban fibre.
"We will be reviewing the decision and advising our customers of any changes
once the dust settles. Like others in the industry Farmside is not in a
position to absorb the increases."
Mr Ware says the TeamTalk Group, which includes Farmside broadband as well as
fibre and wireless divisions, is frustrated by the continuing uncertainty in
the policies that determine New Zealand's telecommunications framework.
"We can't plan for growth and investment when the sands are constantly
shifting under our feet and that has a big impact on end users and other
businesses that rely on reliable cost effective communications."
ENDS
Contact: David Ware * Managing Director * 0800 101-900
End CA:00275286 For:TTK Type:GENERAL Time:2015-12-17 10:34:02
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