NZ's Largest Unbundling Programme Goes Live

New Zealand’s Largest Unbundling Programme Goes Live

TelstraClear has almost doubled the size of its network via New Zealand’s largest local loop unbundling [LLU] programme.

TelstraClear’s programme is now live and the company selling services from 42 exchanges – 23 in Auckland and 19 in other centres across the country. An additional 20 exchanges nation-wide will be live by the end of November.

“This allows us to double the reach of our existing fibre-enabled cable networks so we can continue to do what be do best - offer choice and competition,” Chief Executive Dr Allan Freeth said.

“TelstraClear was at the forefront of campaigning for the opening up of exchanges and creating a true competitive environment. We’ve achieved that and can now deliver true choice to hundreds of thousands of Kiwis across the country.

“Some of them will be getting genuine choice of full service provider for the first time.”

The unbundling programme is the single biggest infrastructure project TelstraClear has undertaken in recent years and opens access to more than 220,000 homes and businesses. It has involved building new automated billing and installation systems and redesigning the entire consumer product offering.

Over 80,000 hours have been logged, with more than 200 TelstraClear staff working on the project and nearly 6,000 tests completed.

It has culminated in providing two distinct advantages for TelstraClear over other competitors using LLU access.

The new automated ordering process means there is no longer the need to deal with third parties. As a result, installation time – the time from when a customer places an order to the service being installed and activated - is now from five working days, down from 27 days.

And the new level of control in the relationship with the customer is reflected in TelstraClear’s consumer product offerings and billing.

Broadband customers will receive maximum speed at all times from just $79 per month in addition to competitively priced unlimited, national calling options starting from $60 per month.

“We like to put the customer in control and keep things simple,” Dr Freeth said.

“Customers can control their broadband usage by buying usage packs as they require them. This gives them control over their budget and ensures there are no nasty surprises when the monthly account arrives.

“The same approach applies to our calling options.”

TelstraClear was the first provider to offer VDSL2+ to businesses, in September 2008, and testing for a consumer service is well advanced.

Businesses around the country will also benefit from TelstraClear’s LLU rollout. It allows TelstraClear to extend its innovative Next IP product suite of voice, data and high speed internet services previously only available over its fibre enable cable networks in Wellington and Christchurch.

ENDS

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