Media Release
10 June 2005

Govt Must Regulate To Lower Mobile Charges

Rt Hon Winston Peters is urging the Government to ensure that charges for mobile phone calls are reduced and brought into line with other OECD prices.

This follows a recommendation issued by the Telecommunications Commissioner yesterday that landline calls to mobile phones should be regulated by the Government.

“New Zealand has one of the highest determination costs of any OECD country, and at present there is nothing to stop these rates continually rising,” said Mr Peters.

“The focus must be on reasonable standard rates in communications. Australian operators have already been ordered to lower termination rates by 50 percent before 2007.

“New Zealand First has expressed our concern about Telecom’s operations, including unbundling and the lack of regulation because it is clear that consumers are not being given a fair go.

“Last year we called for a full investigation of Telecom and its operations following allegations that the company has been overcharging its mobile phone customers.

“Regulation of the telecommunications industry is essential to ensure that consumers are not being ripped off.

“No other First World nation tolerates such anti-competitive behaviour and neither should we,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media