Chorus tests Nokia optical wholesale QoS
Chorus has begun testing Nokia’s optical wavelength service assurance and commissioning technology for layer 1 networks. The technology means Chorus can offer standards-based optical wholesale services to retail service providers. It will also pave the way for new businesses.
Layer 1 connectivity services have high capacity, low latency and are inherently secure. This makes them idea for organisations pushing IT services to the cloud.
Chorus says the test is part of its “One Open Access Network Infrastructure” strategy. The technology could help the wholesale network operator to earn more revenue from its infrastructure by offering access, transport services, premium co-location and network hubs.
Standards-based optical services
Nokia's network technology complies with Metro Ethernet Forum’s standard for level 1 services giving it the ability to offer standards based optical services to providers. It includes Nokia’s wholesale and business-focused Photonic Service Demarcation system.
Chorus CTO Ewen Powell says: “With its support for compact demarcation devices and end-customer portal access to fully instrumented service assurance dashboards and reports, we believe that solutions like this will further advance our service offer and put more network control in the hands of our service providers.”
Spark to sell Sky TV
Writing at Stuff, Tom Pullar-Strecker reports that Spark will soon offer Sky's Fan Pass sports streaming service to the telco's broadband customers.
The two parties have not confirmed the story, but Pullar-Strecker quotes Andrew Pirie, Spark general manager corporate relations who told him:
"If and when we were to come out with Fan Pass, some people might be scratching their head, but there is a commercial rationale to balance exclusivity with maximising the distribution of content".
Pullar-Strecker goes on to say that a deal between Spark and Sky could take the heat out of competition for sporting rights. He also suggests the deal could open the door for Sky to show the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Spark recently won the rights for the tournament.
Motu examines UFB access
A study from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust says New Zealand’s fibre rollout has positively addressed lack of access to ultrafast broadband. The study examined access based both on material deprivation and – within urban areas – on ethnicity.
Motu senior fellow Arthur Grimes says: “Within urban areas, Māori are more likely to live in areas that have UFB access. However, because main urban areas, which have the best fibre access, have the lowest proportion of Māori residents, overall Māori as a group are slightly less likely to have fibre access."
The research looked at whether areas that had the best railway access in the 1880s now have best access to fibre . It found people in areas that lacked 19th century rail due to remoteness or terrain are much less likely to have prioritised fibre access. They are also slightly less likely to have current or future fibre access.
Stuff goes all in on Stuff Fibre
Stuff has exercised its option to buy all the shares in Stuff Fibre. The ISP business was launched in 2016 as a joint venture with Giant Management Limited. Earlier this year the company entered the pay-per-view movie streaming sector with Stuff Pix.
US ZTE ban shakes NZ phone market
The US government has banned Chinese government-owned phone maker ZTE from using American-made components. The move effectively stops the company from making phones.
IDC analyst Alex Yuan says its not yet clear what this will mean for New Zealand, but all three mobile carriers sell the company's phones. ZTE has also made phones sold under the Vodafone, Telecom and Spark brands.
He says the ZTE phones sold here are all at the low-end of the market: 70 percent sell for between $50 and $100. This could give the carriers a headache as they have used low-cost phones to lure customers on to their networks. Yuan says this has worked particularly well for Vodafone in the past.
Yuan says the ban could see the return of the Alcatel brand to New Zealand. He says the company is in a prime position to fill any vacuum should ZTE cease trading.
Vodafone Australia launches 4.9G
CommsDay reports Vodafone's Australian subsidiary has installed massive multiple input multiple output technology on its network in Parramatta, NSW. The story quotes CTO Kevin Millroy who says the move is a significant step to the next generation mobile standard and puts the company “well on the way to be 5G-ready”.
Vodafone Australia has branded the technology as 4.9G. It uses frequency division duplex in the 1800MHz spectrum band. One benefit of this approach is that there are devices already on sale that support this technology. During tests Vodafone saw download speeds of 717Mbps, but says users in Parramatta are seeing 170Mbps.
Chorus shuffles executive
Former Spark Ventures CEO Ed Hyde is to join Chorus as chief customer officer while product sales and marketing GM Nick Woodward is to leave the company. Woodward has been with Chorus since it was first formed as a Telecom New Zealand business unit in 2008.
Chorus CEO Kate McKenzie says: Nick has applied his expertise and leadership in areas of the business wherever it has been needed most, and made a significant impact every time.” Chorus has not named a replacement for Woodward.
She says: “We are delighted to have secured an executive of Ed’s capability. His experience will be invaluable as Chorus continues to develop innovative new products and service."
Network and field management GM Ed Beattie is also leaving the company. CFO Andrew Carroll will move into Beattie’s role. The company says it will search for a replacement CFO. Until the new CFO is appointed Carroll will continue in the role in addition to his new responsibilities .
More people movements
Vocus' New Zealand chief executive Mark Callander is to join the parent company's board. Callander was previously with the CallPlus Group. The business was acquired by M2 before that company merged with Vocus in 2016. Last month Vocus called a halt to its plan to sell the New Zealand business after failing to get an acceptable bid.
Bob Mansfield, who chairs the Vocus Group board says Callander's leadership saw the New Zealand operation overcome "many of the challenges which currently face our Australian business".
Consumer director Matt Williams is leaving Vodafone. Writing at the New Zealand Herald, Holly Ryan reports on speculation he aims to replace John Fellet as Sky TV chief executive.
Glen White is the new head of sales for Kordia Solutions NZ. White was previously head of digital transformation at Dimension Data. He has also worked for Spark. Most of his experience is in the enterprise IT sector.