Telecommunications

The New Zealand telecommunications industry is undergoing fundamental change. Growth is driven by increasing demand for local, backbone, and international broadband capacity.

We have a hands-on knowledge of the challenges facing businesses across the telecommunications sector.

Our expertise includes network establishment, capacity leasing (including indefeasible right of use agreements (IRUs)), interconnection, managed services contracts, joint ventures, M&A transactions, and regulatory advice.

We act for telecommunications network providers, equipment suppliers, resellers, distributors, service providers, and major users.

Examples of our work

• Acquisition of Vocus - advising Macquarie Asset Management on its joint venture with Real Assets and Aware Super and subsequent acquisition of telecommunications group, Vocus Group, for NZ$3.5 billion 
• Merger of Orcon and 2degrees - advised on the merger of Orcon (formally Vocus NZ) and the NZ-based telecommunications group, 2degrees Group Ltd, for NZ$1.7 billion, we acted for Voyage Digital (NZ) Ltd, the merged entity 
• Acquisition of Ultrafast Fibre - advising Ultrafast Fibre on aspects of its acquisition by First Sentier Investments (NZ$845 million)
• Kordia New Zealand - numerous projects including the acquisition and subsequent sale of Orcon (New Zealand's fourth largest internet service provider), issues around the trans-Tasman fibre optic cable project and regulatory issues
• Takeover of FX Networks - acting for ASX-listed Vocus Communications on the takeover offer to acquire FX Networks for approximately $115.8 million
• Roll out of Ultra Fast Broadband - acting for NZ fibre companies on all aspects of the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband including their wholesale services agreements with retailers, compliance with their agreements with Crown Fibre Holdings, undertakings given by the LFCs in favour of the Commerce Commission and issues arising out of their build programmes
• SmartCo - a joint venture between eight electricity lines companies to procure and deploy electricity “smart meters” which record and relay consumption information back to SmartCo via wireless telecommunications
• Fiji National Provident Fund - F$160 million acquisition by Fiji National Provident Fund of 49% of Vodafone Fiji
• Ministry of Economic Development (now MBIE) - structure of Crown Fibre Holdings and Invitation to Participate for the government's $1.5 billion Ultra-Fast Broadband Project
• Inland Revenue - numerous projects over many years, recently including telecommunications outsourcing arrangements
• Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) - numerous projects over many years, including telecommunications outsourcing arrangements