Internet NZ deputy chief executive Andrew Cushen: it should give consumers confidence that the consultation process is underway, but issues like 111 calls still have to be sorted. Photo / Supplied.
The Commerce Commission has started consulting on consumer safeguards that will apply from January 1, 2020 - when new telco law will kick in that allows Chorus to stop offering voice and broadband services over copper lines in areas with UFB fibre.
In other words, for most households, it will
be a choice of fibre or nothing.
"To ensure consumers are not disadvantaged, we will be developing a copper withdrawal code that sets out the rules that must be followed before Chorus can stop providing copper services in neighbourhoods where fibre is available," Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Stephen Gale said.
"For example, the code will require that before the copper service can be withdrawn an equivalent fibre service is readily available at no additional cost to the consumer."
Chorus cannot stop providing these copper services until it meets all the consumer protections that will be in the copper withdrawal code.
