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TVNZ board appointments

6 years 11 months ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges today announced a number of appointments to the Television New Zealand Ltd (TVNZ) board. Dame Therese Walsh has been appointed as the new Chair. Dame Therese has been Deputy Chair since 2015 and a Director since 2012. She replaces outgoing Chair Joan Withers who has served on the TVNZ Board since 2009.  ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Telco property access bill passes third reading

6 years 11 months ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

A bill that will streamline the process for installing Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) passed its third and final reading in Parliament today. Communications Minister Simon Bridges says the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill will make it faster and easier for people to connect to high-speed internet. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

New national cyber security unit launched

6 years 11 months ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges today launched CERT NZ, a new cyber security unit that will help New Zealanders respond to online threats. CERT NZ was announced as part of Budget 2016, receiving $22.2 million of funding over four years. It will serve as the first place for New Zealanders to report a cyber incident. “Secure, dependable ICT infrastructure is more important than ever before. New Zealand’s economic growth, productivity and international competitiveness are increasingly underpinned by digital technology,” says Mr Bridges. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Radio spectrum fees reduced

6 years 11 months ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges today announced a reduction in radio spectrum fees and a simplified regime, to come into effect later this year. The changes will reduce the average annual fee for a licence from around $200 to $150 (including GST). They will also make the fees regime simpler by reducing the number of fee categories from 47 to four. “The new regime is much simpler and fairer for licence holders,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Digital sector and Government alliance launched

6 years 11 months ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has today welcomed the launch of a digital sector and government alliance to explore the economic and social benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is a concept that involves connecting devices to the internet, enabling them to ‘talk’ to each other and to people. For example, smartphones might prompt people to take a specific route to an event because it has access to their current location and calendar. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Trans-Tasman cable improves connectivity

6 years 11 months ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed today’s announcement that the Tasman Global Access cable is up and running, enhancing New Zealand’s telecommunications resilience and global connectivity. Running between Raglan and Sydney, the new standalone cable will provide an alternative to the trans-Tasman section of the Southern Cross Cable, which is the main international cable that currently carries the majority of internet traffic to and from New Zealand. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

NZ cyber security strategy tracking well

7 years ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

The government released its first report on the implementation of New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy and Action Plan today. New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy, Action Plan, and National Plan to Address Cybercrime were launched in December 2015.  The first Annual Report sets out progress under the four goals of the Strategy: achieving cyber resilience; building cyber capability; addressing cybercrime; and enhancing international cooperation. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

$400m Huawei investment will promote innovation and create opportunities

7 years ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

A major investment announced by Huawei today will support our efforts to build an innovative, world leading economy, Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith say. Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer, Huawei, has announced it will commit up to $400 million over five years to research and development and digital innovation in New Zealand. Highlights of the investment include: ...

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beehive.govt.nz

New Zealand broadband speeds continue to surge

7 years ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed Akamai’s latest State of the Internet Report which shows that average connection speeds in New Zealand have increased by 38 per cent since 2015. The Report shows that in the fourth quarter of 2016, the average connection speed had increased to 12.9 Megabits per second (Mbps) – a significant leap from the previous year. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

4G coverage available to 90 per cent of Kiwis

7 years ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Ninety per cent of New Zealanders now have access to 4G cellular mobile services – two years earlier than anticipated, Communications Minister Simon Bridges announced today. The Minister thanked telecommunications companies Vodafone and Spark for their efforts in quickly rolling out their 4G networks. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

UFB uptake up 13 per cent in the last quarter

7 years 1 month ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges says 31 per cent of New Zealanders with access to Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) are now connected, up 13 per cent in the last three months. The December 2016 Quarterly Broadband Update released today shows the number of households, business, schools and hospitals connected to UFB has increased from 288,790 to 327,864 since September 2016. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Next steps for Telco Review announced

7 years 1 month ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges today confirmed details of the Government’s new approach to regulating fixed line communications services from 2020, and released a consultation paper which seeks feedback on the regulation of the copper network. “We need a modern communications regime that reflects our increasingly digital world and that delivers better broadband for New Zealanders,” Mr Bridges says.  ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Safer Internet Day reminder to be cautious online

7 years 1 month ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

International Safer Internet Day is a reminder for all New Zealanders to focus on staying safe online,” Communications Minister Simon Bridges says. Safer Internet Day promotes safe and positive use of technology – particularly for children and young people.  It is part of an international campaign involving more than 100 countries, and is coordinated in New Zealand by NetSafe. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Ultra-Fast Broadband extended to 151 towns

7 years 2 months ago

Simon Bridges | Communications

Prime Minister Bill English and Communications Minister Simon Bridges today announced Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) will be extended to more than 151 additional towns, providing up to 85 per cent of New Zealanders with access to fibre by the end of 2024. The second, $300 million phase of the Government’s UFB programme was launched in Amberley, north Canterbury, this morning. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Waiheke Island now fully fibred

7 years 3 months ago

Amy Adams | Communications

The Ultra-Fast Broadband build on Auckland’s Waiheke Island is now complete, meaning more than 5600 local homes and businesses can now connect to faster and more reliable internet, says Communications Minister Amy Adams. On hand at Waiheke Island today, Ms Adams said total private and public investment in the build totalled nearly $9.6 million, and took less than 18 months to complete after the rollout began in June 2015. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Waiheke Island now fully fibred

7 years 3 months ago

Amy Adams | Communications

The Ultra-Fast Broadband build on Auckland’s Waiheke Island is now complete, meaning more than 5600 local homes and businesses can now connect to faster and more reliable internet, says Communications Minister Amy Adams. On hand at Waiheke Island today, Ms Adams said total private and public investment in the build totalled nearly $9.6 million, and took less than 18 months to complete after the rollout began in June 2015. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Dispute resolution scheme to speed up install agreements

7 years 3 months ago

Amy Adams | Communications

Communications Minister Amy Adams is seeking applications from dispute resolution providers to help speed up agreements between property owners with joint access to install and maintain next generation telecommunications networks. A dispute resolution scheme is part of the Government’s Land Access reform package which will help speed up delays in situations where the consent of multiple parties is required for access to shared property, enabling a smoother installation process for all involved. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

Dispute resolution scheme to speed up install agreements

7 years 3 months ago

Amy Adams | Communications

Communications Minister Amy Adams is seeking applications from dispute resolution providers to help speed up agreements between property owners with joint access to install and maintain next generation telecommunications networks. A dispute resolution scheme is part of the Government’s Land Access reform package which will help speed up delays in situations where the consent of multiple parties is required for access to shared property, enabling a smoother installation process for all involved. ...

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beehive.govt.nz

New RMA standard for telco facilities

7 years 4 months ago

Amy Adams | Communications

Changes to the National Environmental Standard (NES) for Telecommunications Facilities will make it quicker and easier for New Zealanders to get connected to new and better communications technologies. Communications Minister Amy Adams and Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced the new NES for Telecommunications Facilities, under the Resource Management Act (RMA). ...

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beehive.govt.nz

New RMA standard for telco facilities

7 years 4 months ago

Amy Adams | Communications

Changes to the National Environmental Standard (NES) for Telecommunications Facilities will make it quicker and easier for New Zealanders to get connected to new and better communications technologies. Communications Minister Amy Adams and Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced the new NES for Telecommunications Facilities, under the Resource Management Act (RMA). ...

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beehive.govt.nz