Correction: RBI legal framework

Yesterday, based on legal advice, in our media release in response to the announcement that the Government is in negotiation with a Telecom/Vodafone consortium to deliver its Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) we said, “Our reading of the Telecommunications Amendment Bill currently before Parliament is that the regulatory holiday that the Government is trying to secure for urban providers could also apply to this rural scheme.”

We have now been informed and accept that this is incorrect. The regulatory holiday (or, if you prefer, forbearance) will not apply to RBI and normal Commerce Commission oversight is still applicable. That is a good thing.

Our apologies for getting it wrong.

However, we still have other concerns about the RBI announcement. More on that later.