Telecom NZ unable to meet IT systems separation deadlines

Stuart Corner
Friday, 20 November 2009 04:22

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Telecom New Zealand has secured an extension the deadlines for separating its IT systems, required as part of the operational separation undertakings given to the New Zealand Government.

Telecom NZ unable to meet IT systems separation deadlines
Telecom New Zealand has secured an extension the deadlines for separating its IT systems, required as part of the operational separation undertakings given to the New Zealand Government.

Retail/wholesale separation undertakings which came into effect in March 2008 required Telecom NZ to implement logical separation of shared information systems containing customer confidential information by 31 December 2009 but it has been granted an extension by the Government until 30 September 2010 to separate these systems.

Communications and IT minister, Stephen Joyce said that Telecom had requested the extension because "it is not able to support the level of IT system business process change, system change solutions and integration testing required to concurrently deliver six major undertakings milestones by 31 December 2009."

Telecom NZ's difficulties highlight the issues Telstra will face if and when it is required to undertake further separation.

In granting the extension the Government has required Telecom to provide to the Independent Oversight Group and the Commerce Commission a confidential progress report on key undertakings-related work programme items by status and risk. Joyce said: "The report will improve monitoring of key undertakings-related work programme items where there is a risk of slippage."

The Government has also exempted a small number of aging PSTN information systems that contain technical information about the PSTN from the requirement for logical separation.