Following reports from the Government yesterday that UFB and RBI connections continue to increase, TUANZ is urging Kiwi consumers to review their internet services.
TUANZ CEO Craig Young said that yesterday's numbers, along with last week's report from the Telecommunications Forum (TCF), show the vast improvement that has been made in the New Zealand telecommunications industry over the last decade, and that it is important for users to actively compare their options as the market continues to grow.
"The acceptance of the Commerce Commission's copper pricing decision by industry was also a positive sign for the sector," says Young. "And, while TUANZ believes the outcome was not beneficial to users, it has given the industry important clarity on access pricing from now until 2019, which is important for users as they are choosing between services.
Users can see what services are available to them by checking their address on their local retail service providers' websites, on the Chorus or local fibre company's site, or on the National Broadband Map available via the TUANZ website.
"TUANZ is committed to encouraging the continued growth in uptake of the new fast broadband services, as we believe they deliver the best possible service and price for users," Young says.
"We were an early advocate for the need to increase network infrastructure investment, which helped lead to the UFB and RBI policies and programmes, and we will continue to support their uptake and use by people and businesses as an essential investment in New Zealand's future," he explains.
"Our focus now needs to turn to how we are going to use UFB and RBI to turn New Zealand into a digital economy, and how we can get fibre installed into premises more urgently," says Young.
Latest figures show that it can take anywhere from 22 to 104 days to have the service installed, and government is still to move on issues around multi-dwelling units and other issues impacting on installation.
"While we all know that installation is not as simple as flicking a switch, we are concerned that delivery times are increasing rather than decreasing," Young says.
"TUANZ is interested in working with industry and government to help address these sorts of issues where we can.
While residential uptake continues to grow at a rapid pace, slower business uptake should be a concern to policy makers and service providers alike, adds Young.
"Encouraging small and medium enterprises to take up these new services will encourage innovation in their approach to increasing business productivity, leading to better economic outcomes for both them and our country," he says.
"TUANZ is committed to developing resources to help businesses understand the value of fibre and 4G services, and how they can save time and money by investing in putting UFB and RBI to work for them.
