TelstraClear
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| Company type | Subsidiary of Telstra |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | TelstraSaturn, As TelstraClear - 2001 |
| Headquarters | Wellington, New Zealand Melbourne, Australia |
| Products | Voice Internet Digital TV Analogue TV |
Number of employees | 1,500 |
| Website | telstraclear.co.nz |
TelstraClear is New Zealand's second-largest telecommunications company and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telstra Corporation (Australia), with around 400,000 customers.
The company provides 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 a wholesale product from Telecom New Zealand, and investing millions in LLU (Local Loop Un-bundling which in tales TelstraClear Installing its own equipment into Exchanges).
History
TelstraClear had its beginnings in 1996 with Telstra New Zealand.
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.
In 2004 TelstraClear made its first acquisition in the IT market with the purchase of Sytec[1] mainly for its IP telephony and security skills, in particular the specialist managed security subsidiary DMZGlobal. In 2007 Sytec was formally introduces into the TelstraClear's Enterprise and government division and the brand retired, but the DMZGlobal brand has been retained and invested in.
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)
Residential telephone service is available in four ways:
- Through the TelstraClear network, in Kapiti, Wellington and Christchurch. This is part of a package branded 'InHome';
- Through a wholesale agreement with Telecom New Zealand for the rest of the country, reselling Telecom Retail products and
- Through an unbundling agreement with Chorus New Zealand covering many towns and cities. This package is labelled 'HomePlan'.
- Through Un Bundled Exchanges Which is the same as 'Homeplan' But connects to TelstraClear's own equipment at the Exchange.
Business telephone services are offered in the on-net and off-net ( ADSL Areas)
Trunk Lines
Business telephone services are available in the 'on-net' areas, and include ISDN Basic Rate and Primary Rate lines. In other areas, services are available using Wholesale lines from Telecom (Primary Rate Lite, Basic Rate and in special cases legacy Primary Rate).
In addition, SIP Trunking is available (branded 'IP Connect') in on-net areas.
Data Networking
Supplied to Business and Wholesale customers, the major product family is called Private IP, and is essentially an 'Ethernet Anywhere' service delivered over a combination of TelstraClear owned Fibre/Copper networks and Wholesale networks (Chorus HSNS, Araneo Wireless, Network Tasman Fibre). Data connection is available into Australia using either Telstra GWAN or TelstraClear Transtasman Private IP.
Mobile
TelstraClear sells services on the Telecom NZ network, and missed their target of Christmas 2009 to operate as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator on the Vodafone network.
- 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.[2] This did not eventuate, and created acrimony with Vodafone NZ.
- 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.
- In July 2009, TelstraClear announced they would begin using Vodafone's network again, and in this agreement came into place in 2010. [3]
TelstraClear 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.
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. 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[4].Currently offering of speeds up to 25 Mbit/s, it is New Zealand's fastest residential broadband with plans to release 100Mbit/s plans.
Since late 2009, new connections are only available on Clearnet.
Mobile
TelstraClear used to provide mobile data service via the Telecom NZ network. It used CDMA2000 technology.
TelstraClear provides mobile data service through Vodafone now, on their 3G GSM network since early 2010.
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 Direct to Home satellite service and TelstraSaturn's cable network.
InHomeTV is available on TelstraClear's 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.
On 27 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.
Channel Lineup
This lists all current digital and analogue channels. Channel numbers were changed in March 2007 to coincide with SKY channel number changes.
| EPG No. | Channel Name | Subscription Package | Widescreen | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TV One | Start Up | Yes | Free to air | |
| 2 | TV2 | Start Up | Yes | Free to air | |
| 3 | TV3 | Start Up | Yes | Free to air | |
| 4 | Prime | Start Up | Yes | Free to air | |
| 5 | the BOX | Start Up | Yes | ||
| 6 | UKTV | Saturn Extra | Yes | ||
| 7 | Vibe | Saturn Extra | Yes | (Digital only) | |
| 8 | Living | Saturn Extra | No | ||
| 9 | Food Television | Saturn Extra | No | ||
| 10 | SoHo | Soho Subscription | Yes | ||
| 11 | E! | Saturn Extra | No | ||
| 12 | C4 | Start Up | Yes | Free-to-air | |
| 14 | MTV | Start Up | No | (Digital only) | |
| 15 | Comedy Central | Saturn Extra | Yes | ||
| 17 | Fashion TV | Start Up | No | ||
| 19 | Māori Television | Start Up | Yes | Free-to-air | |
| 20 | SKY Movies | SKY Movies Plus | Yes | ||
| 21 | SKY Movies 2 | SKY Movies Plus | Yes | (Digital only) | |
| 22 | SKY Movies Greats | SKY Movies Plus | Yes | ||
| 23 | MGM | SKY Movies Plus | Yes | ||
| 24 | TCM | SKY Movies Plus | No | ||
| 25 | Rialto Channel | Rialto Plus | Yes | ||
| 28 | SKY Box Office Sneak Peak | Start Up | Yes | ||
| 30 | SKY Sport 1 | SKY Sport Plus | Yes | ||
| 31 | SKY Sport 2 | SKY Sport Plus | Yes | Branded as Sky Sport 4 in February | |
| 32 | SKY Sport 3 | SKY Sport Plus | Yes | Branded as Sky Sport 5 in February | |
| 33 | SKY Sport Highlights | SKY Sport Plus | Yes | (Digital only) Branded as Sky Sport 6 in February | |
| 34 | ESPN | Sky Sports Plus | No | Branded as Sky Sport 7 in February | |
| 35 | Trackside | Start Up | Yes | Free-to-air | |
| 36 | The Rugby Channel | SKY Sport Plus and The Rugby Channel | Yes | ||
| 40 | Disney Channel | Saturn Extra | No | ||
| 41 | Nickelodeon | Saturn Extra | No | ||
| 42 | Cartoon Network | Start Up | No | ||
| 44 | SKY Box Office Pay per view guide | Start Up | No | (Analogue only, digital customers can use the interactive PPV guide) | |
| 45 | Playhouse Disney Channel | Saturn Extra | No | (Digital only) | |
| 45-59 | SKY Box Office Movies | Pay-per-view | No | (Analogue only, digital customers use channels 201-227) | |
| 59 | Te Reo | Start Up | Yes | Free-to-air (Digital only) | |
| 62 | Juice TV | Start Up | No | ||
| 63 | 63 - Our Music TV | Start Up | No | ||
| 69 | TLC | Start Up | No | ||
| 70 | Discovery Channel | Start Up | No | ||
| 71 | Crime & Investigation Network | Saturn Extra | Yes | (Digital only) | |
| 72 | National Geographic Channel | Start Up | Yes | ||
| 73 | The History Channel | Saturn Extra | No | ||
| 74 | BBC Knowledge | Saturn Extra | No | (Digital only) | |
| 75 | Animal Planet | Start Up | No | ||
| 79 | The Arts Channel | The Arts Channel | No | (Digital only) | |
| 86 | CTV | Currently limited Broadcasting | No | ||
| 88 | Deutsche Welle | Start Up | Yes | (Digital Only) | |
| 89 | Triangle STRATOS | Start Up | No | Free-to-air (Digital Only) | |
| 90 | Sky News New Zealand | Saturn Extra | Yes | ||
| 91 | CNN International News | Start Up | No | Free-to-air | |
| 92 | Fox News Channel | Saturn Extra | No | (Digital only) | |
| 93 | BBC World News | Start Up | Yes | Free-to-air | |
| 94 | Parliament TV | Start Up | Yes | Free-to-air (Digital only) | |
| 95 | CNBC | Start Up | No | (Digital Only) | |
| 96 | Bloomberg Television | Start Up | No | (Digital only) | |
| 97 | Saturn Scan | Start Up | No | ||
| 98 | Saturn Weather | Start Up | No | ||
| 99 | Saturn Choose | Start Up | No | (Analogue only, digital customers can use the interactive EPG guide) | |
| 111 | Shine TV | Saturn Extra | No | (Digital only) | |
| 201-227 | SKY Box Office Movies | Pay-per-view | Yes | (Digital only, analogue customers use channels 45-59) | |
| 300 | RCTI | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 301 | TV3 | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 302 | Shanghai Satellite Television | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 303 | Arirang | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 304 | NHK World | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 305 | TVB Jade | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 306 | MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 307 | Taiwan Television | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 308 | Formosa Television | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 309 | CCTV News (Chinese) | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 310 | CCTV News (English) | World TV | No | (Digital only) | |
| 315 | Phoenix Chinese Channel | World TV form Phoenix Satellite Television | No | (Digital only) | |
| 316 | Phoenix InfoNews Channel | World TV form Phoenix Satellite Television | No | (Digital only) | |
| 400 | NZ Chart | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 401 | Pop | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 402 | Smooth | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 403 | Grooves | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 404 | Jazz | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 405 | House | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 406 | 50s & 60s | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 407 | Party | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 408 | Rock | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 409 | Country | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 410 | Classical | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 411 | Kids | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 412 | Blues | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 413 | Theme | Saturn Extra and SKY Digital Music | No | (Changes every month) (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 500 | The Edge | Start Up | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 501 | Radio New Zealand National | Start Up | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 502 | Radio New Zealand Concert | Start Up | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 503 | George FM | Start Up | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 510 | Core Internet Radio | Start Up | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 511 | The Cheese | Start Up | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) | |
| 512 | Base FM | Start Up | No | (Radio channel) (Digital only) |
Interactive Services
Interactive services are available only on digital.
- Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) - Television listing information.
- Pay Per View (PPV) Guide - Sky Box Office 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 22 February Earthquake)
- TBN has also ceased due to their financial limitations
References
External links