Ranco opponents warn of weaker mobile competition

In this edition Objectors idedntify joint venture risks Telecommunications Development Levy figures Phone booths set to go One NZ-2degrees joint venture faces oppositionFive submissions opposing the proposed One NZ-2degrees Radio Access Network (RANCo) joint venture argue that combining active mobile radio infrastructure risks reversing hard-won telecommunications reforms and harming consumers.The opponents range from overseas-based competition economists to local regulatory pioneers and industry advocacy groups. Across the five submitters, there are four areas of concern.Fewer independent networksFirst is the move from three independently operated radio access networks to two. Former Tuanz CEO Ernie Newman and former Tuanz chair Judy Speight was the chair each offer submissions that warn the joint venture will create a radio access network duopoly and that this is a step on a "downhill slippery slope" back to the days of high pricing and lack of choice before the market reforms of…