Mobile roaming decisions deferred by regulator

The Commerce Commission is deferring a decision on whether it should investigate regulating the price of mobile roaming.

National roaming allows subscribers of one mobile network to use their mobile telephone handset on a different mobile network to make and receive calls.

As a result a new entrant is able to offer nationwide services while it builds its own network.

Commission chairwoman Paula Rebstock today said it had concerns about the prices in commercial roaming agreements and the ability of potential market entrants to negotiate competitive agreements in a timely manner.

The commission intended to finish in three months its consideration of whether it had grounds to investigate the national roaming service .

That would give parties involved an opportunity to reach commercial solutions to issues it had raised, the commission said.

Greater clarity about the appropriate prices for roaming services was expected during the next three months, arising from the commission's separate investigation into mobile termination services.

Termination rates are the amount mobile phone companies charge other carriers to terminate calls on their networks.

The commission said it had used mobile termination prices as a proxy for mobile roaming prices in the past.

- NZPA