communications

Communications is a critical sector for all modern economies. Many of the basic economic issues in this sector are independent of the communications technology, such as the design of competitively-neutral access prices.

Covec has worked with both communications providers and industry regulators, and our work often involves formulating regulatory solutions that respect both public policy objectives and commercial realities. In communications, our experience spans fixed-line and mobile telecommunications, television and radio broadcasting, internet and post.

Relevant Skills & Services:

competition & regulatory advice

litigation support

commercial transaction support

policy & cost-benefit analysis

Examples of Our Work:

Competition law principles for telecommunications and broadcasting

Macao Telecommunications Regulator (DSRT)

Review of the telecommunications and broadcasting industries in Macao, and development of principles to guide drafting of competition law for these sectors.

Demand for high-speed broadband in Auckland

Auckland Regional Broadband Authority

Primary research and econometric modelling of willingness to pay for enhanced broadband services by households and firms in the Auckland region.

Open Access Broadband in Auckland.pdf

Economic effects of international internet bandwidth competition

Kordia Ltd

Analysed and modelled the effects of additional competition in international internet bandwidth on retail broadband markets in New Zealand.

Liberalisation of telecommunications in the Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands Government

Negotiating an early end to the monopoly telecommunications franchise, including design of regulatory regime, interconnection rates and estimation of fair compensation.

Liberalisation of telecommunications in Vanuatu

Government of Vanuatu

Negotiation of an early end to the monopoly telecommunications franchise including compensation modelling. Provision of complete regulatory service for first 18 months of the new competitive regime, including design and implementation of universal access policy.

Mobile termination

Vodafone New Zealand

Provided expert advice and analysis on economic, competitive and regulatory issues relating to termination of calls on mobile networks.

Subloop unbundling

Vodafone New Zealand

Provided expert advice on competition and regulatory issues relating to price and non-price conditions of access to unbundled sub-loop services.

Universal service costs

Vodafone New Zealand

Analysis of economic issues associated with the TSO instrument under the Telecommunciations Act 2001, including matters related to technological optimisation.

Valuation of broadcasting spectrum rights

Ministry of Economic Development (NZ)

Development of a simple, robust and transparent method for valuing the renewal of broadcast spectrum rights.

Valuing the right to broadcast music

Expert testimony on the economic valuation of rights to broadcast music, before the Copyright Tribunal.