TelstraClear Limited has today applied to the Commerce Commission for a pricing review of its interconnection determination released earlier this month. The Commission's determination, released on 5 November, related to price and non-price terms for interconnection between the TelstraClear and Telecom New Zealand Limited networks.

Under section 42 of the Telecommunications Act 2001, a party to a determination can request the Commission to review the part of the determination that relates to the price to be paid for services.

While the initial determination set an interconnection price based on benchmarking against prices in other countries, the pricing review will examine the forward-looking costs of providing interconnection services in New Zealand.

The Commission has provided a copy of the application to Telecom, and will seek Telecom's comment on the application. The Commission's timeline under the Act is to prepare a draft determination as soon as practicable. The Commission's determination continues to have effect and is enforceable pending the making of a price review determination.

Media contact: Osmond Borthwick, Manager, Network Access

Phone work (04) 924 3667

Jackie Maitland, Communications Manager

Phone work (04) 924 3708, mobile 029 924 3708

Commission media releases can be viewed on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz