New Zealand is transitioning from the old copper telephone and broadband network to new technologies via fibre and mobile networks.
More than 700,000 homes have already made the switch to fibre and by 2020 around three quarters of the country is expected to have access to fibre.
Once fibre has been rolled out to your area, and several consumer safeguards are in place, telecommunications network provider Chorus may decide to stop offering certain copper services.
Our role is to develop the safeguards to protect consumers during this transition.
What does it mean for you?
Switching to fibre will mean you get increased download and upload speeds and a more reliable connection. You will still have access to your landline and the internet, but it will run through a new technology.
Before Chorus can stop offering certain copper services, the Commission will develop safeguards to protect consumers, including ensuring:
your copper landline and internet connection CANNOT be taken away until an equivalent fibre service is readily available at NO additional cost
vulnerable consumers have an appropriate way of contacting 111 in the event of a power cut as landlines provided by a fibre connection may not work.
The Commission is required to carry out assessments to determine areas in which specified fibre services are available to end-users. These will be known as specified fibre areas.
The Commission is developing a copper withdrawal code that sets consumer protections that will need to be met before Chorus can stop providing copper services.
The purpose of a Commission 111 contact code is to protect vulnerable consumers by ensuring they have reasonable access to an appropriate means of contacting the 111 emergency service in the event of a power failure.
