Joyce should act quickly to regulate mobile termination rates


The Communications Minister Steven Joyce should accept today’s revised recommendation of the Commerce Commission to regulate mobile termination rates, Labours Communications and IT Spokesperson Clare Curran said today.

“The minister must act swiftly to regulate so that the industry can move forward without uncertainty,” Clare Curran said.

“Labour welcomes the Commission’s revised recommendation which reinforced its view that mobile termination rates be regulated rather than the Minister accepting voluntary undertakings from the two major telcos Vodafone and Telecom.

“The Commerce Commission has accepted that gaming behaviour by big telcos in the market represents a barrier to expansion by a new entrant.

“Regulation will provide certainty and fairness for consumers and all players in the telco market.

“In March Labour called on the Government to put consumers first and regulate mobile termination rates to keep call costs down. High mobile termination rates are a barrier to entry for new players in the market.

“Consumers will benefit from better services and lower prices from more competition in the mobile market.”

ENDS

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