Com Com releases mobile market study issues paper

Spark New Zealand Limited
ARBN 050 611 277 Spark City, 167 Victoria Street West, Private Bag 92028, Auckland, New Zealand


MARKET RELEASE
31 August 2018

Commerce Commission releases mobile market study issues paper
Spark New Zealand welcomes the Commerce Commission’s release today of its mobile
market study issues paper.
Spark GM for Regulation John Wesley Smith says the paper canvasses a wide number
of issues and Spark looks forward to engaging with the Commission on these.
“We are pleased to see the Commission’s paper acknowledges the excellent pricing,
coverage and broadband speeds the New Zealand mobile market is delivering to
customers today. The Commission’s paper confirms that New Zealand mobile prices for
the most popular mobile bundles are significantly below the OECD average prices and
that New Zealand’s three mobile network operators are continuing to invest heavily in
their nationwide mobile networks, covering a total of 98% of the population. We believe
those market outcomes confirm that competition in New Zealand mobile markets is in
good health.
“The issues mentioned in the paper for further consideration are more about how
competition might develop as we look forward into the future. We are supportive of the
Commission looking into those issues.
“However, we would emphasise that on these forward-looking issues - particularly with
regards to the allocation of spectrum for 5G networks - time is of the essence. We would
urge the Commission to move as quickly as possible to conclude this process, as Spark
(and our competitors) have some large investment decisions to make in a short period of
time.”
ENDS

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