Telco CER in Trujillo's sights

Sol Trujillo says thre is more work to do in enabling better trade and business across the Tasman. Picture / Reuters

Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo is calling for closer economic ties between New Zealand and Australia to boost competition in the telecommunications sector.

Sydney-based Trujillo made a live satellite address to Auckland at the Trans Tasman Business Awards yesterday.

The boss of Telstra - who is yet to make a visit to New Zealand a year after taking the job - said the company had a vision for a single market between Australia and New Zealand.

The two-decade-old, free-trade closer economic relations agreement between Australia and New Zealand had neglected telecommunications, he told the audience

"A generic competition law and competition has been targeted under the CER, but little example has been made so far of those Governments to co-ordinate the sectoral competition such as telecommunications."

Telstra "obviously" was advocating for that to happen so it could deliver better services and less complexity for its customers, he said.

A roaming agreement between the two countries' networks was important so Telstra had seamless services across the Tasman.

"It's just a reminder there is more work for us to do in enabling better trade and business across the waters," he said.

He said Telstra was watching the regulatory developments in New Zealand "closely".

"We are looking forward to growing our TelstraClear business in New Zealand, so it delivers on its potential."

TelstraClear would extend its fibre to the bottom of the South Island, linking Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch, he said.

It also planned to launch a $50 million, 3G mobile-broadband network in Tauranga next year.

TelstraClear chief executive Allan Freeth said Trujillo would visit New Zealand next year.