The process for determining the wholesale price for terminating mobile calls and text messages has begun. But it won’t be finished until March 2011.

The first stage of this process will be to hold a scoping workshop for the telecommunications industry and other interested parties.

The Commission has released a letter outlining matters to be discussed at a scoping workshop that will include parties from the telecommunications industry and others interested.

Dr Ross Patterson, Telecommunications Commissioner, explained, “The Commission has proposed that the final regulation should focus solely on setting a wholesale price. Unless the industry provides compelling arguments to the contrary, non-price terms such as operational arrangements and technical specifications will continue as negotiated by the industry.”

He added, “The focus on price terms in the standard terms determination (STD) will address a key driver to New Zealand’s high mobile retail prices.”

Following the workshop, the Commission will issue a notice to the access providers to submit a proposal for standard terms to govern the supply of mobile termination access services.

The STD process isn’t expected to be completed until March 31st, 2011, the Commission says.

Here’s an “indicative timeline for the standard terms development process”:

• Commencement of STD process - September 28th
• Scoping workshop - October 6th
• Request for STP released by mid-October
• STP due (one week to be allowed) by late October
• Submissions on STP due (one week to be allowed) by early November
• Draft STD released by mid-December 2010
• Submissions on draft STD due (three weeks to be allowed, excluding Christmas and New Year period) tbc
• Cross submissions on draft STD due (two weeks to be allowed) tbc
• Conference late February or early March 2011
• Final STD released by March 31st, 2011