[LINK] Mobile Co-location in NZ

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Telecom Corporation Of New Zealand 

Media Release 25July 2008/no 015

"Commission issues draft standard terms determination for the mobile co-
location service"

The Commerce Commission has today released its draft standard terms 
determination on the non-price terms for co-location on cellular mobile 
transmission sites (the Mobile Co-location Service).

The Mobile Co-location Service allows the equipment of a mobile network 
operator to be installed on another operator’s cell masts. Co-location 
helps reduce network infrastructure costs for existing and potential 
mobile service providers by providing for the sharing of network 
infrastructure.

“The Commission considers that mobile co-location is in the long-term 
interests of end-users. It is likely to avoid socially wasteful or 
inefficient duplication of facilities, while having a positive effect on 
efficient entry, leading to increased competition in the downstream market 
for retail market services,” said Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Ross 
Patterson.

The Commission’s draft determination includes all non-price terms 
necessary for an agreement between access providers and access seekers of 
the service.

The Commission has requested submissions from the industry on a number of 
issues. There will be a period of further consultation, including a 
conference, before a final determination is issued.

The closing date for submissions on the draft determination is 22 August 
2008. This will be followed by a period for cross-submissions.

Following this period of consultation, the Commission will prepare the 
final determination. It is anticipated that the final determination will 
be issued in November 2008.

The Commission’s draft determination and related documents can be found on 
its web site at:
http://www.comcom.govt.nz/IndustryRegulation/Telecommunications/StandardTer
msDeterminations/MobileColocationserviceStandardTermsDet/DecisionsList.aspx

Background

Co-location on cellular mobile transmission sites (‘the Mobile Co-location 
Service’) is a specified service under Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the 
Telecommunications Act 2001.

The Mobile Co-location Service allows the transmission and reception 
equipment of a mobile network operator to be installed on or with another 
operator’s mobile base station (cell mast). This can reduce network 
infrastructure costs by avoiding unnecessary duplication of masts. As this 
is a specified service, determining the ‘price payable’ is outside of the 
Commission’s jurisdiction.

On 22 December 2006, the Telecommunications Act was amended to incorporate 
a process for the Commission to make a standard terms determination on 
which a designated access or specified service must be supplied by access 
providers to all access seekers requesting the service.

A standard terms determination should be comprehensive enough and contain 
sufficient detail so that there is no need for an access seeker and access 
provider to enter into a separate agreement for provision of the service 
within the specified timeframe.

The Act specifies that the following steps must take place before a 
standard terms determination may be made by the Commission:

�� Initiation of the determination process
�� At least one scoping workshop
�� Commission issues notice to provide a standard terms proposal
�� Access provider submits a standard terms proposal
�� Submissions from access seekers on the standard terms proposal
�� Commission issues draft standard terms determination
�� Parties to provide submissions on the draft standard terms determination
�� Commission issues standard terms determination

A brief overview of the key steps in a standard terms determination 
process is available on the Commission’s web site www.comcom.govt.nz under 
Industry Regulation/Telecommunications/ Standard Terms 
Determinations/Overview

Media contact: Allanah Kalafatelis, Communications Manager Phone work (04) 
924 3708, mobile 021 225 4417

Commission media releases can be viewed on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz
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Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia