Lobby group aims to give telco industry a voice

Russell Stanners (left) and Paul Reynolds at the launch of the Telecommunications Industry Group. Photo / Martin Sykes

The major players in the telecommunications sector have clubbed together in a lobby group aimed at promoting industry views.

The Telecommunications Industry Group (TIG) comprises industry heavyweights Telecom and Vodafone, junior telcos CallPlus, Woosh, WorldxChange, and network operators Vector, Citylink, FX Networks and Kordia.

Group chairman and Vodafone chief executive Russell Stanners said although the members were competitors, they held common views on industry issues.

"Things like RMA, we all have an interest in that. Things like achieving an adequate return on investment, regulatory certainty, helping the Government build the future broadband networks because we are the industry," said Stanners.

Telecom chief executive Paul Reynolds said TIG filled a gap that did not exist in other sectors which were represented by industry bodies. "One of our frustrations is there are these things going on that we agree on. We need that voice."

Kordia chief executive Geoff Hunt said debate within the industry helped tease out the significant issues. He said membership to the group did not rule out individual companies having a voice, for example, submissions on the Government's fibre plan. Rod Inglis, head of Woosh, said the group was also clear on areas it could not agree on.

"They are areas where there is regulatory intervention. Mobile termination rates is an obvious example. On those matters we would remain silent. And obviously we wouldn't be engaging in any activities that breach the competition rules," said Inglis.

The group, which has come together on three previous occasions, met yesterday with the Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce, who said he gave the group a further briefing on the details of the Government's planned fibre roll-out.

"These sort of industry organisations, if they work well, they're good for industry and they're good for the government-industry interface," he said. TIG comprises the chief executives of industry participants, but is open to associate members, such as technology suppliers.

Notable absences include TelstraClear and yet-to-launch mobile operator NZ Communications.

TelstraClear spokesperson Chris Mirrams said the company preferred to speak on its own behalf on policy issues, but would work with the industry as the need arose, giving the collaboration with Telecom and Vodafone on the Castalia Report as an example.

NZ Communications spokeswoman Bryony Hilless said the company was focused on the launch of its mobile network and would make a decision on whether or not to join in due course.

The group, which aims to meet monthly, is in the process of recruiting a chief executive and support staff.