Telco recruitment push set to plug gaps in new broadband focus

By PETER GRIFFIN

Telecom's late spurt on broadband has been accompanied by the company recruiting 10 people to work on "disruptive technologies" to stimulate broadband usage.

The jobs, which have been advertised in newspapers, give some hint of Telecom's technology focus in the next three years.

Two technologists were required to join a type of technology think tank.

"Key areas of interest will be network/security and next generation directories that support location/presence based services," the job description read.

Other vacancies were across Telecom's new media, strategy and partnerships groups.

Those new recruits would have the opportunity "to radically jump-shift the communications and entertainment market in NZ".

The general manager of product content sourcing at Telecom, Ralph Brayham, said the jobs were "filling in gaps in our recruitment rather than something new".

"A key focus over the last two years has been to support Telecom's mobile group to build capability in new mobile media developments including Mobile Xtra Services, picture messaging and new handsets.

Brayham said the focus had now shifted to broadband.

"We see significant opportunity in giving customers the ability to access the same content, applications and services across multiple platforms - broadband, dial-up, wifi, and mobile access."

The new media group, which has existed for two years, was involved in the "prototyping of disruptive technology", partner development and management, media creation and management.

"In short we don't build things - we bring the new ideas into the business and push the benefits of disruptive technology and integration as hard as possible."