The New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (the TCF) has approved changes to two TCF industry Codes, the Broadband Marketing Code and the Marketing Alternative Services During Copper and PSTN Transition Code.
These Codes help ensure that the information about broadband services presented to Consumers by Telecommunications Providers that market broadband services is clear, accurate and up-to-date.
The Codes deliver clear benefits for consumers, including greater ability to make informed decisions about which broadband service best suits their needs. It will also help improve consumer understanding of the different speed and performance characteristics of broadband services, avoiding confusion when comparing options across providers.
In 2022, the Commerce Commission issued guidelines to Telecommunications Providers delivering broadband services requesting improvements in the way they market broadband services, in particular when consumers are transitioning off copper-based services. The TCF codified these guidelines into the Broadband Marketing Code and the Marketing Alternative Services during Copper and PSTN Transition Code.
In 2025 the Commission released updated guidelines. The TCF has reviewed the Codes to align with changes set out in the Commission guidelines. The changes needed were relatively minor, says Telecommunications Forum CEO, Paul Brislen.
“The Commission has increased its focus on the use of testing to prove broadband speeds are advertised appropriately, and we have adjusted the Codes to reflect that,” says Brislen.
Changes include an updating of the Approved Alternative Testing requirements for companies that use non-standard testing to report their speeds.
“The sector works hard to translate technical information into a format that is readily understood by customers from all walks of life without leaving out key information and we believe the Codes will help with that.”
The Broadband Marketing Code ensures consumers can make informed decisions about what service best suits their needs.
“Customers should be able to make a buying decision based on comparable information regardless of the technology choices available to them,” says Brislen.
The Marketing Alternative Services during Copper and PSTN Transition Code refers to the marketing of services when a customer transitions away from older, end of life technologies and services to the newer services delivered via fibre, fixed wireless and other network types.
The two new Codes are available on the TCF website.
