In this first episode of CrossTalk, Phil Dobbie compares the two approaches, helped by Rohan MacMahon, Strategy Director at Crown Fibre Holdings and economist Arron Schiff from consulting firm Covec. Dr Stephen Gale, the telecommunications commissioner at the Commerce Commission, talks through some of the regulatory issues.

As you’ll hear, the biggest difference relates to copper. Australia is turning it off, New Zealand will keep it going for some time to come. In parts of the country where Chorus hasn’t got the gig to roll out fibre that could create some interesting – and potentially destructive – competitive behaviour.