Clear seeking a fresh deal

By RICHARD BRADDELL

WELLINGTON - Clear Communications has written to Telecom's chief executive, Theresa Gattung, giving notice that it wants to renegotiate its interconnection agreement.

The present agreement, which is at the heart of several disputes between the two companies, gives either party the right to require negotiation as its expiry at the end of this year approaches.

Clear's chief executive, Tim Cullinane, said that because the outcome of the Government's telecommunications inquiry could change the environment, he had asked for a new agreement be of short duration or structured so that it could be amended.

Asked if the present acrimony between the companies over free internet termination arrangements would cloud negotiations, he said that with goodwill on both sides an agreement that served the needs of both companies and their customers could be reached.

Telecom spokeswoman Linda Sanders said Ms Gattung was on record as saying she was always happy to talk.

While the present agreement provides that interconnection negotiations must begin if a party gives notice after the end of June, Mr Cullinane said he was keen to get talks under way. He believed that should not be a problem if there was goodwill on both sides.

The agreement also provides for binding arbitration should the parties fail to agree.

Speaking from a celebration to mark the launch of Clear's free internet service provider, Zfree, Mr Cullinane said he was uncertain when arbitration could be invoked because he did not have details to hand.

He said Zfree customer numbers were "just shy" of 30,000.

The Commerce Commission will hold a conference today to consider Team Talk's application to buy Telecom's trunked mobile radio business, Fleetlink.

In March, the commission issued a draft determination stating that it had found the public benefit outweighed the detriment to competition by between $3.6 million and $10.7 million over five years.