CNU
19/09/2014 08:57
GENERAL
REL: 0857 HRS Chorus Limited (NS)
GENERAL: CNU: Chorus submission on regulated UBA and Boost proposals
STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
19 September 2014
Chorus submission on regulated UBA and Boost proposals
Chorus yesterday sent the Commerce Commission its submission in response to
their consultation paper on issues relating to Chorus' proposed changes to
the UBA service. The submission included Chorus' external legal advice, from
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts and Chapman Tripp, supporting Chorus' position on
the UBA proposals.
In a covering letter Mark Ratcliffe, Chorus' Chief Executive Officer,
outlined the market context for Chorus' desire to offer wholesale customers,
and their end-users, choices of differentiated broadband services that best
suit their desired purpose.
"In the three years since the demerger of Chorus into an open access
wholesale only company we have seen monumental changes within the New Zealand
broadband market.
"Broadband lines have grown by 16% to 1.29m connections and 77% of households
now have broadband at home. The number of residential broadband lines capable
of speeds greater than 10Mbps have increased to 90% and New Zealand's OECD
ranking has moved up to 15th place where we sit comfortably above the OECD
average and above the US, Australia and Japan.
"However, perhaps the biggest change is the explosion in the number of
end-user devices, and the seemingly ever increasing demand for HD streamed
online video. You need only look to Vodafone's TV service, Slingshot and then
Orcon's launch of Global Mode, Spark's recent launch of their Lightbox
service and Video Ezy's on demand online movie offering.
"Chorus' Boost proposals and recommendations around the regulated broadband
service need to be considered in the context of this sea change in end-user
demand for greater throughput. If the industry is to be incentivised to
invest to deliver better broadband to New Zealanders while in the transition
to fibre, it's essential for clarity on the standard regulated service and
guidance on when, and how, new wholesale broadband services will be supported
in today's regulatory environment."
Chorus' submission and external legal advice on the UBA proposals are
attached.
ENDS
For further information:
Steve Pettigrew
Communications Manager
Mobile: +64 (27) 258 6257
Email: [email protected]
Brett Jackson
Investor Relations Manager
Mobile: +64 (27) 488 7808
Email: [email protected]
End CA:00255432 For:CNU Type:GENERAL Time:2014-09-19 08:57:22
