2027 Fibre Input Methodologies Review
We are required to review the Fibre Input Methodologies (IMs) within 7 years of their publication. We commenced our review of them on 27 March 2025, and are required to complete this review by 13 October 2027.
The fibre input methodologies set the key regulatory rules for fibre services. They establish the key rules, processes and requirements that apply to the regulation of fibre services under Part 6 of the Telecommunications Act 2001. They provide certainty to regulated suppliers, access seekers, and end-users about how the regulatory regime will operate.
The Commission is undertaking its first review of the fibre IMs. Our initial view remains that the fibre IMs are generally working well. While considering the breadth of the IMs, our work in the review focuses on the areas of highest value to end-users of fibre services. We are conducting this review in two phases:
- Tranche 1 focused on issues relevant to Chorus preparing and submitting its proposal for a price-quality path reset (alongside a parallel process on cross-sector cost of capital IM matters); and
- Tranche 2 covers matters not addressed in Tranche 1, including fibre-specific cost of capital matters.
Submissions now open on our Issues paper (Tranche 2)
We published our Fibre Input Methodologies Review 2027 Issues Paper (Tranche 2) that covers issues not addressed in Tranche 1 of the review on 4 August 2026. We invite feedback through the submission process detailed in the paper, which can be found in the timeline below. Submissions close on 1 September 2026.
Final decision on the Fibre IMs Tranche 1 issues published 25 August 2026
Our Fibre IM Review 2027 (Tranche 1) final decision package was delivered on 25 August 2026. The decision confirms a series of targeted updates to New Zealand's fibre settings. These will ensure fibre networks can continue to grow and deliver reliable, high-quality broadband services for consumers. In the decision we have streamlined the process for assessing capital expenditure proposals through clearer information requirements and more predictable timelines and additional refinements covering areas such as connection costs and insurance will further improve how the regime operates.
We continue with our analysis The final decision for the Common cost of capital input methodologies review (fibre and regulated suppliers under Part 4) will be published separately at 2027 Input Methodologies Review – Common cost of capital.
Previous documents
On 27 March 2025, two Notices of Intention and an Open letter seeking stakeholder views on the process and initial focus areas of the Fibre IM review were published. This included signalling that the where the fibre cost of capital IMs were common regulated suppliers under Part 4 of the Commerce Act we would be considering these IMs, these common areas include our approach to the cost of debt, the risk-free rate of interest for equity and the tax-adjusted market risk premium. Submissions on the Open letter closed on 29 April 2025.
The Fibre IM Review 2027: Issues paper (Tranche 1) and the Fibre input methodologies draft decision-making framework paper were published on 10 July 2025. Stakeholders provided their views on these papers through submissions and cross-submissions.
The final Fibre input methodologies Decision-making Framework paper was published on 10 March 2026. This is an enduring document that will be used in future fibre IM reviews.
Our Tranche 1 draft decision was delivered as two packages:
- The Common cost of capital input methodologies review (fibre and regulated suppliers under Part 4) draft decision package published on 2027 Input Methodologies Review – Common cost of capital on 10 March 2026.
- The Fibre IM Review 2027 (Tranche 1) draft decision package published on 17 March 2026.
The submission period closed on 16 April 2026 and the cross-submission period closed on 6 May 2026. Submissions and cross-submissions are published on the timeline below.