NZ ranks 16th in telco survey

New Zealand ranks among the top 20 in the world in a survey of phone, computer and internet technology developments.

The survey by the International Telecommunication Union compares technology use, access and skills in more than 150 countries.

New Zealand is ranked at 16th place, up three places from the last survey in 2002.

While heartened by the improved ranking, Telecommunications Users Association head Ernie Newman said it was "important to note that access to the internet is holding us back compared to the other indicators that they measure".