Copper news stories

“By 2022, most New Zealanders are expected to have access to fibre at home. That means large parts of the traditional copper phone and broadband network may no longer be needed."

"The OECD average price has dropped since last year, New Zealand is now more expensive than the international average.”  

The Commerce Commission has cited the range of alternative voice offerings and shrinking consumer numbers as reasons to let Spark take the reigns.

The government has announced a reform of the telco act that will affect Internet around the country - but is it good news for consumers?

Trials are taking place in parts of Avonhead, Riccarton, Burnside, Russley and Sockburn this week.

“Electrons running over network cables won’t cut it. Intel has been working on silicon photonics over 16 years. We are the first to light up silicon.”

The Commerce Commission offers up slightly reduced proposed wholesale charges to access the Chorus line - and proposes removing backdating.

"There occurs the slightest hint of a wholesale price rise and the providers are sending out letters to their customers telling them they have to pay more."

The Commission is seeking views from submitters to see if they think the final UCLL price should be backdated, and if so, what would be an appropriate date for this.

"Chorus has had three years warning of the inevitable fall in copper prices."

"We have been working closely with our external advisors to formulate a set of proposals on building cost models for the telecommunication services we are pricing."

"Politicians might not always agree with the Commission’s decisions, but we should trust the regulator to get on with it."

Chorus has today announced a new set of broadband products designed to deliver more choices for the telecommunications industry and a clear path to fibre.

Chorus expects 2014 earnings to take a $9 - $10 million hit following the Commerce Commission’s decision to raise the price of another component on the company’s copper lines.

"John Key, Amy Adams and Steven Joyce have all contributed to one of the major botch-ups of the National Government..."

Chorus, the telecommunications network operator spun out of Telecom in 2011, has put up an alternative proposal to the Commerce Commission on how its physical copper lines should be regulated in a bid to fast-track the process.

Gerben Romijn, LevelOne CSO of international networking, weights up the benefits of fibre versus copper for your customers long range digital signage.

Public comments from some parliamentary parties that they will not be supporting legislation in regards to copper pricing is not unexpected, according to an unsurprised Amy Adams.

Prime Minister John Key appears to be holding the door open to renegotiating the price at which Chorus undertakes its part of the national roll-out of fibre-optic cable under the government's ultra-fast broadband project.

Chorus has filed papers in the High Court challenging the way Commerce Commission set prices on its regulated copper lines, questioning whether the antitrust regulator interpreted the law correctly.

An international expert should be brought in to conduct the independent assessment of Chorus’ financial position, according to opposition party Labour.

Orcon CEO Greg McAlister has reiterated the company’s commitment to lower broadband prices and promises to pass on any copper savings directly to consumers.

Chorus's credit rating has been placed on review for a possible downgrade by Moody's Investors Service following the regulator's decision to cut the price the network company can charge for access to its ageing copper lines.

CallPlus and Slingshot CEO Mark Callander welcomes Commission's Chorus decision – and he is now calling for the government to step back from the "Copper Tax."