TelstraClear
 | |
| Subsidiary of Vodafone New Zealand | |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Fate | acquisition |
| Predecessor |
Saturn Communications Clear Communications |
| Successor | Vodafone New Zealand |
| Founded | TelstraSaturn, As TelstraClear - 2001 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Products |
Voice Internet Digital TV Mobile |
Number of employees | 1300 |
| Website | customerzone.vodafone.co.nz |
TelstraClear Limited was New Zealand's second-largest telecommunications company before being acquired by Vodafone New Zealand, with around 400,000 customers. It was a subsidiary of Telstra Corporation (Australia) prior to its acquisition by Vodafone on 31 October 2012.[1]
The company provided residential line rental services, internet services, IT services, security services, cable TV/cable modem and mobile telephone services to 70,000 subscribers on its network in Wellington, Christchurch and Kapiti.
In 2004 TelstraClear began offering residential line HomePlan services including broadband outside those areas where it has its own network, reselling the ADSL wholesale product from Chorus Limited, and investing millions in local loop unbundling, which entailed TelstraClear installing its own equipment in Chorus exchanges.
History
TelstraClear had its beginnings in New Zealand with Kiwi Cable in the Kapiti Coast district, Clear Communications in 1990, and Telstra New Zealand in 1996.
Telstra NZ slowly expanded its operations in the business market bundling Telecom New Zealand services distributed as a reseller with its own network services. It installed switches in Auckland and Wellington to manage incoming and outgoing international traffic and maintained an interconnect agreement with Telecom New Zealand and is likely to have had others with companies such as Clear Communications.
In 1999 Saturn Communications was sold by its parent company, Austar United Communications to a new joint venture with Telstra that became known as TelstraSaturn.
TelstraClear was then created by the merger of Telstra's TelstraSaturn and Clear Communications in December 2001. Austar United Communications held an initial investment of 42% in TelstraClear before selling it back to Telstra.
TelstraClear had plans of extending the cable network to Auckland, but cancelled the plan in 2004 due to community opposition.[2]
In 2004 TelstraClear made its first acquisition in the IT market with the purchase of Sytec[3] mainly for its IP telephony and security skills, in particular the specialist managed security subsidiary DMZGlobal. In 2007 Sytec was formally introduced into the TelstraClear's Enterprise and government division and the brand retired, but the DMZGlobal brand has been retained and invested in.
In July 2012, Vodafone New Zealand announced plans to acquire TelstraClear.[4] Vodafone approached Telstra to purchase TelstraClear for a payment of $840 million and $450 million that TelstraClear has in its accounts. On 30 October the Commerce Commission approved the takeover bid, and on 31 October the sale was completed. The 31st of March 2013 is the final trading day of TelstraClear.
Services
Telephone
Services are available from the "on-net" areas, where TelstraClear has its own network technology based on copper wires or fibre. These areas include parts of Central Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Napier, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Kapiti, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, with actual technology varying based on reach and type.
POTS (Plain Old Telephone Services)
'InHome' residential telephone service with vertical service code products is available in one of the following ways depending on location:
- Saturn Communications established cable network, in Kapiti, Wellington and Christchurch.
- TelstraClear maintained equipment in Chorus unbundled exchanges in inner city suburbs.
- Chorus maintained equipment in all other Chorus exchanges covering most outer lying suburbs and towns.
Single fixed line business telephone services are offered in 'on-net' ADSL and 'off-net' POTS Chorus fixed line areas.
Trunk Lines
Business telephone services are available in 'on-net' ISDN inner city suburbs with basic and primary rate lines. In other areas, services are available using Chorus owned ISDN/ADSL lines and exchanges (primary lite, basic and (in special cases) legacy primary rates).
With 'IP Connect' SIP trunking available in inner city suburbs.
Data Networking
'Private IP', a non-VPN leased line WAN service for business and wholesale customers is essentially an 'Ethernet Anywhere' service delivered over a combination of the TelstraClear fixed line network, networks leased from Chorus HSNS, Araneo Wireless and Network Tasman Fibre. With interconnect into Australia via either Telstra GWAN or TelstraClear operated TransTasman lines.
Mobile
TelstraClear provides mobile data service through Vodafone, on their 3G GSM network since early 2010.
- In July 2009, TelstraClear announced they would begin using Vodafone's network again, and in this agreement came into place in 2010.[5]
- TelstraClear sold services on the Telecom NZ network until late 2009 with mobile data service via the Telecom NZ network. It used CDMA2000 technology.
- In 2007, TelstraClear signed a wholesale mobile deal to access the Telecom New Zealand CDMA network and began offering new services to small medium enterprises and small business. In 2008, they started to offer non-business service using Telecom's network. In 2009 they were negotiating to use Telecom's new XT (UMTS) network but Telecom would not allow access until 2011.
- Customers using CDMA handsets on the Telecom network will continue to operate until at least 2012. Mobile Number Portability will allow existing customers (or customers from other carriers) to move to TelstraClear (on Vodafone) with the appropriate handset, and keep their existing mobile number.
- Until 2007, TelstraClear sold a mobile service on Vodafone's GSM & UMTS network. Billing was from Telstra, but the customers belonged to Vodafone.
- In July 2006, TelstraClear announced they would build their own UMTS network in Tauranga, expanding to other locations. They would roam to other networks when outside these areas.[6] This did not eventuate, and created acrimony with Vodafone NZ.
Internet
Fixed Line Technologies
ADSL TelstraClear owns two ISPs, Paradise.net and Clearnet, with Clearnet becoming the umbrella brand. Both offer nationwide dialup and DSL service, resold over Telecom's DSL lines and also over unbundled exchanges . A number of their dial-up IP numbers are blacklisted as abusers by sites such as DSBL.
VDSL2 Only available to Business customers in the 'on-net' areas, this technology is used to deliver the product BizBroadband and BizNet, as well as the IP Voice products (IP FeatureLine, IP Connect, IP Gateway, IP Clarity).
DOCSIS (cable) TelstraClear also offers DOCSIS cable modem internet access within TelstraClear's own (built) network.[7] Currently offering standard speeds of up to 15 Mbit/s, And TelstraClear have also released 100 Mbit/s plans with 10Mbit/s upload.
Since late 2009, new connections are only available on Clearnet.
IT and security
With the acquisition of Sytec and the formation of Enterprise and Government division, TelstraClear now also provides managed network solutions, ICT services (such as desktop and device management and co-location), enterprise comms and contact center solutions. In addition under the DMZGlobal brand TelstraClear does Internet security, managed security, and security consulting services.
Television
TelstraClear operates the Hybrid Fibre Cable pay television network under the brand "InHomeTV". It was developed by Saturn Communications in Wellington, Kapiti and Christchurch, prior to the sale to Telstra, and formerly known as Saturn TV. The network infrastructure includes twisted pair cabling used for residential and business local telephone service.
Programming is sourced from SKY Network Television following an agreement in 2002 and also locally received and sourced channels. The agreement allows TelstraClear to distribute and bill for services provided by SKY Network Television on its own InHome digital TV network.
In May 2012 TelstraClear Started Sourcing its own Pay Per View Movies and changes its branding to InHome Movies.
InHomeTV is available on TelstraClear's HFC Cable network in Wellington, Christchurch and Kapiti. The service is available only if bundled with TelstraClear's telephony service or internet products.
As of June 2011 TelstraClear ceased all Analogue transmission on its cable network. In September 2010 TelstraClear released their own PVR called the T-BOX. The launch followed the release by parent company Telstra (AU) of a similar product.
Interactive Services
- Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) - Television listing information.
- Pay Per View (PPV) Guide - Inhome Movies listing information.
Defunct Channels
- TechTV was available up until May 2004, when current owner Comcast halted international broadcasts. (Source: TelstraClear website)
- Chilli (an adult channel) was also available until 2006 when CEO Alan Freeth discontinued the product on moral grounds.
(Source TelstraClear staff memo)
- Wild TV
- Visitor TV This has been closed down after the February 22nd Earthquake
- TBN has also ceased due to their financial limitations
References
- ↑ "Vodafone completes acquisition of TelstraClear".
- ↑ Orsman, Bernard (May 7, 2004). "TelstraClear scraps aerial cable plan". NZHerald. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ↑ "TelstraClear acquires Sytec". Telecomworldwire. 2004.
- ↑ Vodafone New Zealand to buy TelstraClear for NZ$840m. Newstatesman.com. Retrieved on 23 July 2012.
- ↑ TelstraClear offers next gen mobile with Vodafone. Scoop.co.nz (6 July 2009). Retrieved on 23 July 2012.
- ↑ TelstraClear plans HSDPA based Triple Play service. (PDF) . Retrieved on 23 July 2012.
- ↑ TelstraClear to deploy DOCSIS 3.0. Telegeography.com (3 August 2009). Retrieved on 23 July 2012.