Tenancy Act update opens door to more fibre connections

Law change means landlords can no longer refuse fibre connection requests

Changes to New Zealand's Residential Tenancies Act that took effect on February 11, 2021 mean landlords can no longer refuse requests for a fibre connection when the installation is free.

Landlords must facilitate fibre broadband installation upon request (unless an exemption applies) where the connection can be installed at no cost to the landlord, for example using the government's Ultra-fast Broadband initiative which provides fibre installation for free.

The reforms were part of the second phase of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020, which associate minister of Housing Kris Faafoi said would improve the wellbeing of the 609,700 households that live in rented homes.

Benefits for tenants, no cost to landlords

The changes mean that tenants will receive the employment, education and social benefits of fibre broadband, without detriment to landlords. Under the new rules, tenants can make written requests for fibre installation. Landlords must respond within 21 days.

The move will enable more homes to connect to the UFB network at a time when remote work and online education had become increasingly important.

Limited exemptions apply

There are specific exceptions where landlords can refuse fibre installation: if it would affect the structural integrity of any building or undermine the weather tightness. Other exemptions apply if installation would breach an obligation such as a bylaw, planning rule or covenant, or if the landlord plans extensive alterations or refurbishment to begin within 90 days.

The fibre provisions were part of broader rental reforms that also removed "no cause" terminations for periodic tenancies, increased financial penalties for non-compliance, and allowed tenants to make minor modifications to rental properties.

Starlink opens for business in New Zealand

SpaceX's Starlink low earth orbit satellite service has begun taking customer orders in New Zealand. The service costs $160 a month for unlimited data at speeds between 50 and 150Mbps, with customers needing to purchase an $800 satellite dish.

Initial latency will be 20-40ms, improving over time. Sporadic reports suggest service dates starting in late 2021 or early 2022. Orders are processed first-come, first-served with refundable deposits, though there are no guarantees of service. Read the full analysis of how Starlink could disrupt rural communications.

ComCom wants input on Chorus spending plans

The Commerce Commission wants to hear views from interested parties on Chorus’ proposal to spend $1.6 billion over the first three years of the new fibre regulatory regime.

Chorus's capital expenditure that is approved by the Commerce Commission will be used to determine the regulated prices it is able to charge retail service providers. These costs are passed on to consumers.

The proposal for the first three years includes investments of $983 million on network extensions, installations and to sustain service quality. Chorus proposes to spend a further $599 million on network operations.

Takeover bid values Vocus at A$3.4 billion

Vocus Group, for now the Australian-based parent company of the local operation, has received an offer valuing the company at more than A$3.4 billion. The offer comes from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Holdings which aims to buy 100 percent of the company's shares.

The move comes as the Group plans to spin off its New Zealand business in a float. The move is not expected to change those plans

Vocus Group was in takeover talks twice in 2019.

Streaming violence bill heads to select committee

Jan Tinetti, minister of internal affairs, says the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Urgent Interim Classification of Publications and Prevention of Online Harm) Amendment Bill has been referred to Select Committee for public consultation. The bill aims to protect New Zealanders from inadvertently seeing harmful online content. It makes live-streaming objectionable material a criminal offence.

Leadsom fills new N4L chief customer and brand officer role

Network for Learning has hired Michelle Leadsom as its chief customer and brand officer. The position is a new role for the organisation. Her job will mean creating a customer experience for the 860,000 students, teachers and school staff served by N4L. Until recently Leadsom was head of marketing and customer experience at Tower Insurance.

Boyes to fill Bogoievski's shoes as Infratil CEO steps down

Banker Jason Boyes will succeed Marko Bogoievski as Infratil CEO and will become a director of the business. The move is effective from April 1. Bogoievski is stepping down after 12 years in the role. He will continue as chief executive of the investment bank Morrison and Co.

Wallis to replace Woodhouse as Voyager CEO

Voyager Internet founder and serial online entrepreneur Seeby Woodhouse is standing down as the company's CEO, Former general manager Alf Wallis will move into the role. Woodhouse says he will continue to be involved as managing director. Elsewhere at Voyager Deidre Steyn has been promoted to chief commercial officer, while operations manager Steve Armstrong becomes chief operating officer.

Tuanz publishes rural to-do list

Tuanz has published its 2020 Rural Connectivity Symposium Communique. The document highlights the need for the government to deliver its planned rural broadband programmes on time. Tuanz CEO Craig Young says this coincides with Climate Change Commission report which wants the Rural Broadband Initiative to have the resources to achieve those goals. That way farmers can have access to the data needed to practice precision agriculture.

Tuanz lists five rural broadband actions that could make a difference:

• Building on the work and investment to date, we support the call for a 10 year strategic, multilateral plan for improving rural connectivity in NZ.
• Our end goal should be to ensure that the rural experience is at least equivalent to urban, recognising the requirement for a multi-technology approach.
• This will require a change to the funding model to a more transactional and end-user focused approach to ensure continued investment in network capacity, capability and offering enhancements such as free installs of CPE, as is the case in UFB.
• This end-user focused approach should be supported by rolling out a publicly available national connectivity register, allowing users and providers with a view of the best form of connectivity available at their location, as well as providing real-life experience reporting.
• All this will fail though if users are not aware of their options or the opportunities they are missing out on. We need a concerted and planned awareness programme delivered at the community level.

Southern Cross Cable picks Ciena for Next cable

Ciena will help construct the Southern Cross network's Next cable, a 72Tbps 13,500km submarine link connecting Auckland and Sydney to Los Angeles. There will be branches to Fiji, Tokelau and Kiribati. Southern Cross says cable laying will start later this year with network completion expected early next year.