'Big move' to speed broadband

Telecommunications Commissioner Douglas Webb responded to angry internet service providers yesterday by telling them a big move is imminent regarding Telecom's wholesale broadband regime.

"The commission is close to finalising a major decision on the TelstraClear application," Webb said in a statement yesterday.

TelstraClear submitted an application with the commission in November that complained of Telecom's wholesale setup. This said that Telecom's wholesale regime was not truly wholesale in that it placed limitations on what resellers could offer, limiting product differentiation.

About two dozen ISPs banded together last week and submitted a letter to Webb that condemned the current wholesale regime.

Webb has recently threatened regulation to separate Telecom's wholesale and retail broadband businesses.

Webb said in yesterday's statement that some of the complaints about "anti-competitive behaviour ... fall under the Commerce Act, and the commission will comment on them separately."

In regards to Telecom's wholesale bitstream service, Webb effectively likened the ISPs' complaint to TelstraClear's, and invited them to "make similar applications any time they like."

The ISPs say they are "doomed" under the current regime. Telecom has responded by saying the ISPs who signed the letter are those dependent on regulation for survival.