BCL to host competitor

By ADAM GIFFORD

Broadband provider Walker Wireless will be able to site its transmitters on Broadcast Communications' (BCL) towers as part of an out-of-court settlement reached yesterday.

The state-owned transmission company had challenged the licences Walker Wireless lodged for adjoining spectrum in the 2GHz band.

It alleged the wireless equipment Walker was using for its regional wireless networks would interfere with its transmissions.

BCL cited as co-defendants independent Wellington radio engineer Robert Vernal, who approved the licences, and the Ministry of Economic Development, which registered them.

The legal action upset regional broadband promoters who had chosen Walker Wireless as their service provider.

It also enraged Communications Minister Paul Swain, who complained that BCL had a history of obstruction at odds with the Government's desire to free up the telecommunications market.

Swain welcomed the compromise, which was revealed when lawyers for the companies asked the High Court at Auckland for an adjournment while details were worked out.

"I am pleased they appear to be working towards a settlement and progress can be made," Swain said. "I hope it is in the best longer-term interests of consumers."

Walker Wireless chairman Rod Inglis said it should be very good for consumers.

"We have more options with our coverage because of co-siting. It lowers our costs, reduces duplication and enables a quicker build-out," he said.

"It is crazy to go out there and build more towers. We have always wanted to co-site with BCL, but we have never been able to get prices out of them.

"It could bring costs down if BCL is realistic and commercial on its co-siting rates."

Mr Inglis said running different wireless networks from the same sites would make it easier to control interference.

BCL said it would look again at filtering, an option it did not address in its statement of claim.

"There are some issues the engineers need to work through," said Inglis, "but this has demonstrated the merits of co-operation very clearly. BCL are now very co-operative where they were not before."

Far North Development Trust chairman Chris Mathews said the settlement was good news for Northland, Wairarapa and Southland, who are working with Walker Wireless on providing broadband.

"Thankfully, common sense seems to be the order of the day here."