TCF releases draft fibre install code

A draft Fibre Installation Code from the NZ Telecommunications Forum sets out consistent standards for installing and connecting new fibre lines. The TCF says this should improve customer experiences.

The code also outlines key information that companies should share with customers so they can make informed choices.

TCF CEO Geoff Thorn says: “The positive thing about the code is that New Zealand’s internet service providers, fibre companies and technicians have already adopted most of the practices outlined in the code, so this process is more about formalising the standard.”

The code does not apply to business connections.

If you are interested, you can make a public submission on the code can be made to the TCF. You have until May 31 to have your voice heard. The TCF aims to have a finalised code in force by the end of the year.

Vodafone fined $350k for billing errors

Vodafone has been fined $350,000 in the Auckland District Court for breaches of the Fair Trading Act. The company pleaded guilty to the breaches earlier this year.

The billing errors in question took place between 2012 and 2018. When customers cancelled Vodafone products, they would be charged for another full month if the billing date occurred during their notice period. They didn't get a pro-rata discount for the days the service was not used. This led to fairly small overcharge amounts. The average overcharge was $9.70.

Jason Paris, Vodafone CEO says, “Every customer deserves an accurate bill every month. We clearly fell well short of that in this instance, and for that I apologise. If you get it wrong, you should put your hand up, acknowledge it, and make it right.”

Spark beats mobile rivals to eSim

Spark is the first New Zealand carrier to support embedded Sim, or eSim cards. It a version of the Sim card built directly into some of the latest phones and smart watches. For now Spark only supports a handful of devices: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and iPhone XR, XS and XS Max. Owners of other suitably equipped devices will need to wait.

The launch is timed to coincide with the launch of the Galaxy Watch 4. Spark offers what it calls the Unlimited Wearable Plan to mobile phone customers who also buy the Watch.

TeamTalk and CityLink rebrand as Vital

TeamTalk and CityLink plan to rebrand the combined business as Vital. This will cover the radio and fibre operations. Until the legal names and the NZX ticker are changed the company will keep the existing brand names.

Minor outage at Spark Sport

With 20 weeks to go until the Rugby World Cup, Chris Keall at the NZ Herald reported that Spark Sport suffered another glitch while covering last weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The issue was minor. Spark told the newspaper that the "playback issue" only lasted 12 minutes and happened over an hour before the start of the race.

Meanwhile Vocus and 2degrees complained to Stuff journalist Tom Pullar-Strecker that Spark has been tardy getting its wholesale Rugby World Cup packages to likely ISP resellers.

Orion NZ cellular-integrated digital radio network launches

Motorola Solutions, TL Parker and CSE Genesis have launched the Orion Converged Communications Core, or OC3. Its a two-way radio communications network aimed at industrial and government users. It will provide voice, data and video applications that can integrate with cellular networks. The network is modelled on a similar service operating in Australia. At first it will operate in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Next year the service will be nationwide.