Copper cabinets are soon to be a thing of the past for many Kiwis, with Chorus announcing it will switch off its first copper cabinets in mid-March.

10,000 customers are still using its copper phone network, but they will need to move to voice over fibre, wireless, UltraFast HFC, or copper broadband (VoIP).

The code sets out the requirements Chorus must meet before it can stop providing wholesale copper phone and broadband services, including ADSL and VDSL. 

"We are giving notice that we will no longer be selling PSTN services in Devonport and Miramar from mid-August."

“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.”  

Chorus has announced today that CEO and managing director Kate McKenzie will pack her bags and head to Australia at end of 2019, after three years in a CEO role.

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

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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.”

Chorus has made a further submission to the Commerce Commission ahead of the final determination on pricing of its copper network.

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

"The Commission should explain why it is in NZ’s best interests for consumers and businesses here to pay more for their broadband line charges."

"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 Commerce Commission has published emerging view on backdating prices for Chorus’ copper lines and broadband service

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..."