Commission holds benchmarking conference

The Commerce Commission will hold a conference this Thursday and Friday, 16 - 17 May, on its benchmarking in pricing determinations under the Telecommunications Act.

The conference will be held on Level 5, CSI House, 166 Featherston Street, Wellington, from 9am on both days.

The conference follows the release, in April this year, of a discussion paper, International Benchmarking, which describes the methodology for benchmarking interconnection prices and retail-minus wholesale discounts, and compares price in comparable overseas jurisdictions.

The Commission has now received submissions on the paper from interested parties.

Commission conferences provide interested parties with an opportunity to make oral presentations based on their submissions in response to Commission discussion papers. The Commission can ask questions based on those submissions at the conference.

The discussion paper on international benchmarking as well as various submissions are available on the Commission's website at www.comcom.govt.nz/telecommunications/Benchmarking.cfm

Agenda for Benchmarking Conference: Thursday 16 and Friday 17 May

Chair: Douglas Webb (Telecommunications Commissioner)

Commission Members: Paula Rebstock (Commissioner)

Donal Curtin (Associate Commissioner)

Thursday 16 May

9.00am - 9.05am Opening Address from Douglas Webb

9.05am - 11.00am Telecom

11.15am - 1.00pm Telecom

2.00pm - 3.30pm Telecom

3.45pm - 4.30pm Vodafone

Friday 17 May

9.00am - 11.00am TelstraClear

11.15am - 12.45pm Walker Wireless

12.45pm - 1.00pm TUANZ

2.00pm - 4.00pm Telecom

Media contact: Osmond Borthwick, Network Access Manager

Phone work (04) 924 3667

Jackie Maitland, Communications Manager Phone work (04) 924 3708, mobile 029 924 3708