Issued 7 November 2003

The Commerce Commission will hold a five day conference next week on its draft report on unbundling Telecom's local loop and its fixed Public Data Network.

Unbundling of telecommunications networks is a means of allowing competitors to use parts of the network on a wholesale basis in order to build up a competitive offering of retail services.

On 18 September, the Commission released its draft decision that there would be substantial net benefits from unbundling Telecom New Zealand's local loop network and its fixed Public Data Network. On 14 October, the Commission released an amended draft report.

The Commission invited submissions from interested parties on its draft report. The conference is an opportunity for interested parties to present their submissions orally and for the Commission to ask questions based on those submissions.

The conference will be held from Monday 10 November to Friday 14 November 2003, in the ground floor conference room located at 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington.

A copy of the conference programme is attached. Media are asked to confirm their attendance with Gail Kernohan, Communications Adviser, (04) 924 3709 or gail.kernohan@comcom.govt.nz.

The Commission received 32 submissions on its draft report. The submissions are published on the Commission's website, http://www.comcom.govt.nz/telecommunications/localloop.cfm

Media contact:

Osmond Borthwick, Manager, Network Access Group

Phone work (04) 924 3667

Gail Kernohan, Communications Adviser

Phone work (04) 924 3709, mobile 029 924 3709