Broadband at a Crossroads conference - programme announced

The Commerce Commission today released a full programme for the upcoming Broadband at a Crossroads Conference being held at the Langham Hotel in Auckland on 26 and 27 February. The conference is part of a wider study on the impact of new technology on telecommunications markets. Under the Telecommunications Act, the Commission has responsibility for monitoring and reporting on developments in telecommunications markets, as well as conducting studies into telecommunications matters.

Commerce Commission Chair Paula Rebstock said, “The deployment of new technology in telecommunications networks is creating rapid changes in the way we communicate. It is vital that New Zealanders get an early understanding of the challenges and opportunities that will flow from these next generation networks.”

“The conference represents a central part of the study and will provide an interesting and thought provoking array of speakers to give insights into how markets and competition will develop as these networks are deployed. The international speakers will show how other countries have dealt with the issues arising from the deployment of fast broadband networks and give an opportunity to learn from their experiences. The conference will enable participants to engage in an informed debate about these issues in the New Zealand context. The conference will also provide valuable material to assist the Commission in completing the study,” Ms Rebstock said.

Hon Steven Joyce, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, will be delivering a Ministerial Address. The keynote international speakers include:
• Kip Meek, Chairman of the UK Broadband Stakeholder Group, an industry-government forum for tackling strategic issues across the converging broadband value chain;
• Scott Marcus, Senior Consultant at Wissenschaftliches Institut fuer Kommunikationsdienste (WIK) Germany, international expert on IP interconnection;
• Jos Huigen, Director Regulatory and European Affairs, Koninklijke KPN N.V., the Dutch fixed and mobile network operator (via video conference);
• Benoit Felton, Yankee Group (Europe), discussing open access network models; and
• Robert James, Nokia Siemens, discussing whether the utility model is the optimal future approach.

Places are limited and registration is essential. A copy of the programme and information on how to register is available on the Commission’s website www.comcom.govt.nz under Media Centre/Events/NGN Conference
Background
Section 9A (1) (b) of the Telecommunications Act (2001) empowers the Commerce Commission to proactively conduct inquiries, reviews and studies into any matter relating to the telecommunications industry or the long-term benefits of end-users of the telecommunications services within New Zealand. This new power enables the Commission to take a strategic view of any matter that relates to the telecommunications industry.

The Conference is part of the Commission’s Next Generation Networks (NGN) Study.
The NGN Study has five parts:

• industry questionnaire and consultation – to ascertain the current state of NGN deployment in New Zealand and understand any issues the industry may have;
• discussion paper on drivers and implications;
• Broadband at a Crossroads conference, Langham Hotel, Auckland, 26 and 27 February 2009;
• draft report, due late April 2009; and
• final report, intended for release mid-2009.

Next Generation Networks (NGN) is the term used to describe the replacement of legacy telecommunications networks such as Telecom’s PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) with new packet based all Internet Protocol (IP) networks.

The NGN study focuses on understanding the key technological developments that will emerge during the next five years and their impact on the commercial and competitive environment for telecommunications services.