Inquiry likely on roaming charges

The Commerce Commission has indicated it plans to push ahead with an inquiry into mobile roaming charges.

The regulator - whose chairwoman, Paula Rebstock, departs today - said yesterday it was deferring for three months a decision on whether to launch an investigation.

In a letter to interested parties, the commission indicated its stance, saying: "It is crucial that a national roaming service is provided in a manner that facilitates efficient market entry and incentivises efficient network expansion."

It noted commercial agreements between Vodafone and the New Zealand Communications network - which has the most advanced plans to set up its own mobile network.

The commission was concerned with claims that the commercial agreement artificially inflated the headline roaming rate Vodafone charged NZ Communications for access to its network.

NZ Communications chief commercial officer Bill McCabe said that as it stood there was only one provider for global roaming - Vodafone.

"If we want a deal there is a commercial negotiation with someone who holds absolute power."

NZ Communications said it wanted to be up and running and the commercial agreements were not linked to the wider debate about the investigation.

For the past five months Rebstock has been filling in for the New Zealand telecommunications commissioner, Ross Patterson.

Commerce Minister Simon Power is still deciding when Patterson will come back.