Latest news with #McLennan
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Download Weekly: Concern as 3G shutdown nears
Breaking news: Major Starlink outage A message on the Starlink website earlier this morning (Friday July 25, NZ time) told customers the SpaceX low Earth orbit satellite broadband network was "experiencing a service outage". By 8:00AM the Starlink site was also offline, possibly because of the high traffic from customers looking for answers. The problem appears to be worldwide with users from all over reporting problems on sites like Reddit. Down Detector shows the outage was first reported at around 7:00 NZ time. Mixed awareness, lots of worries as carriers prepare to pull 3G plug Research carried out for the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa (Deca) shows mixed awareness of the coming 3G mobile network shutdown and high levels of concern among those most likely to be affected. One New Zealand and 2degrees plan to switch off their 3G networks before the end of the year. Spark will keep its 3G service running until March 2026. That means most remaining 3G users have less than six months before their phones stop working. One in five unaware Presenting the results in a webinar, Deca co-chair Vic McLennan said only three percent of survey respondents were 'very aware' of the shutdown. Another 36 percent were 'somewhat aware'. One in five had no awareness at all. This suggests mobile companies have not done a good job informing their customers. 'Everyone seems to be concerned about the shutdown,' McLennan says. The survey found 53 percent of respondents are very concerned. A further 43 percent are somewhat concerned. Not ready A report published in June 2024 by OpenSignal also found few users were ready for the change. At that point, One NZ planned a March 2025 shutdown. Spark was aiming to close its 3G service by the end of this year. Deca says barriers to upgrading are a concern. For many, the issue is financial. While it's possible to buy a basic 4G phone for under $100, there were reports of vulnerable users being sold far more expensive models. In some cases, customers took on debt they could not afford. A lack of digital confidence There are other issues. Some users lack digital confidence and struggle to make the shift. Others worry about losing access to emergency calling. That's also a particular concern for users with older 4G handsets that rely on 3G for voice. Another worry is coverage. In some areas, 3G signals reach further than 4G. The change could leave people in those fringe locations without service On a more positive note, the number of 3G-only users continues to fall. Tuanz CEO Craig Young told the webinar that 3G now accounts for just two percent of Spark's mobile data traffic. Voice calls over 3G have dropped by 85 percent. That suggests a shrinking number of users could be left behind when the service is switched off. Who are most at risk to the 3G shutdown? Deca identifies: Older people with basic phones, less well off, rural communities, Whānau using refurbished or older devices, Medically dependent or vulnerable people. Number porting services to remain regulated In a draft decision published this week, the Commerce Commission says there are no reasonable grounds to investigate number portability services. Local and Mobile Number Portability (LMNP) is what lets you keep your phone number when switching providers. Although they are two different services, the rules are much the same for landline numbers, which are now on the way out, and for mobile numbers. While portability is convenient for phone customers, it is also important for competition as it lowers the barriers that might otherwise stop people switching service providers. Number portability services have been regulated services since 2001. Under the Telecommunications Act, the Commerce Commission has to consider whether to stop regulating these services every five years. The Commission says there is no practical alternative to LMNP. If the rules were removed there would be no mechanism to stop phone companies from either refusing to change numbers or from charging excessive fees to do so. Which means, for now, the Commerce Commission wants to keep the rules in place. Chorus CTO Ewen Powell to step down A Linkedin post from Chorus chief technology officer says he will step down from the role at the end of July. Powell has been in the role for more than 14 years. In his post he says his journey took him from the Post Office to Telecom to Chorus. For now he will be taking a break before looking for a new role. Collins grants Tāwhaki Joint Venture $5.85 million Space minister Judith Collins has granted the Tāwhaki Joint Venture $5.85 million for three years of operational funding. Collins says: 'This funding will help it scale up aerospace operations, attract new customers and strengthen New Zealand's position in the global advanced aviation sector.' In other news... Starlink could be facing a congestion problem — Interest. Why Sky TV bought Three — NZ Herald. How many landlines are in service worldwide in 2025? — Telegeography. The Department of Internal Affairs has new digital identity rules — Reseller News. NCSC and Cert NZ integration now complete The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says it has now completed integrating CertNZ into its organisation. As part of the change, the Cert brand, the website and the hotline will disappear. In a statement on the now merged website the government agency says the integration 'improves the experience for all New Zealanders reporting cyber security incidents, making it easier for people to know where to go for help'. They are nice words. Yet while the new structure might make sense from a cost point of view, there is no visible evidence of improved experience or ease of use. Download Weekly five years ago Spark upgrades to self healing Optical Transport Network. The telco built a 800 Gbps link connecting Glenfield and Papakura. It was the first self-healing fibre connection of its kind in New Zealand with the ability to automatically restore services after an outage. Enjoy the Download Weekly? Feel free to pass this email on to your colleagues. Have your say subscribers are able to comment on any newsletter or story on the website. Just scroll to the bottom of the page. Reader emails are also welcome. The Download Weekly is supported by Chorus New Zealand. Concern as 3G shutdown nears was first posted at Bill Bennett Freelance journalist. Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers. His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast. Bennett's The Download Weekly here. If you want to support his work, you can make a donation to his PressPatron account.
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Calls for ‘farcical' North Berwick parking plans to be shelved
East Lothian Council had expected to have parking meters operating on the seaside town centre's streets last month but have hit snags getting planning permission from their own officers. Now the local authority has confirmed that earlier proposals to phase in the scheme by introducing off street charges in car parks, due to be introduced last April, have also been delayed after it was not practical to start charging people until the meters were in place. READ MORE: Scottish construction firm set to go into liquidation Since April 13, planning applications have been lodged seeking permission to install the meters in the conservation area. However, five have had to be withdrawn – one of them twice – while the rest remain undecided. The local authority insists the withdrawal of several of the applications is 'normal practice' in the planning process but declined to go into details over what was wrong with the initial proposals beyond saying it was due to 'accessibility of the proposed locations'. The pavements in some of North Berwick's town centre streets are narrow and already become clogged with tourists during busy periods. [[North Berwick]] is the first of five East Lothian towns due to see parking charges brought in with consultations ongoing over similar plans for Dunbar, Tranent, Haddington, and Musselburgh. East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan, who served as a councillor on the local authority before being elected to Holyrood said, in his experience, the number of application withdrawn was not normal. McLennan said the North Berwick scheme should be put on hold while consultations in other towns were being carried out. He said: 'The process has been poorly planned and in North Berwick it should be halted until decisions are made elsewhere in East Lothian.' Fellow East Lothian MSP Craig Hoy, who also served as a councillor and has been an outspoken opponent of town centre parking charges across the county, described the North Berwick situation as "farcical'. READ MORE: World's tallest cinema in Scottish city 'at risk of closure' He said: 'This is farcical. It goes to show that East Lothian Council hadn't thought through either the impact of parking charges on residents or the practical consequences of installing parking metres in historic and conservation areas in the town.' An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'Following ongoing consultation work, the proposed placement of a small number of parking meters was changed. "This was in relation to accessibility of the proposed locations. As is normal practice in the planning process, the previous applications were withdrawn and new applications for the amended locations were submitted.' On the decision not to introduce car park charges in April as originally proposed, they said: 'Off-street charges haven't been introduced. We are seeking to deliver the overall proposal at the same time rather than in parts.'
AU Financial Review
07-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
A golden year for Wall Street's Australian stock picker
Of all the Australians who have made a name for themselves on Wall Street, Matthew McLennan can surely lay claim to be among the most prominent. Born in Papua New Guinea and raised in Queensland, McLennan landed in New York via Sydney and London and is now the co-head of First Eagle's global value team, overseeing the asset manager's $US62.3 billion ($94.7 billion) global fund.
Edinburgh Reporter
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
McLennan switches from Ayr to Livingston
Winger McLennan has left Ayr United to join The Lions and the former Aberdeen forward made a key contribution to the Ayrshire club in their promotion push last season. The 25-year-old who was born in Peterhead moves under freedom of contract and it is understood that he has signed a two-year deal with David Martindale's men. The manager (pictured) is reported to being keen to bring in ten new players for their campaign in the William Hill Premiership However, club captain Jamie Brandon, a former Hearts player, who can play in defence or midfield, has left the newly-promoted club at the expiry of his contract. The 27-year-old has been linked with Kilmarnock. Like this: Like Related
The Courier
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Housing minister meets Raac campaigners in Dundee as key theme emerges
The housing minister has met with campaigners and the local authority in Dundee to discuss the Raac crisis affecting in the city. Paul McLennan sat down with Yvette and Wayne Hoskins on Monday afternoon to discuss a range of concerns, including communication issues between residents and Dundee City Council. Speaking to The Courier afterwards, Mr McLennan said: 'I met with the council earlier on today as well and asked them some questions about their approach. 'And I've spoken to Wayne and Yvette in more detail. 'There's some things that we've taken away, one of them is about communication both for council tenants and for private residents.' The housing minister believes local authorities should be taking the lead on informing residents about Raac-related issues and said learnings could be made. 'I think the key thing is communication between council and the Raac community – whether it's either residents or council tenants,' said Mr McLennan. 'The situation in Aberdeen is different to Dundee and is different to other parts, so the lead on this should be local authorities. 'One of the other things we talked about today was learning from other local authorities. 'In terms of Aberdeen, its communication has been different from Dundee, it's been different from North Lanarkshire and other parts of Scotland. 'So we look at best practice as well in terms of communication.' When asked outright if Dundee City Council had to improve on their communication, Mr McLennan said: 'I think they're just different approaches. 'It's an unsettling time for residents and council tenants and I think one of the key things is knowing what they need to know.' Earlier this week, Raac residents in Menzieshill were furious after being told to expect a repair bill by council for work on their flats which began without consultation. Mortgages and insurance concerns were the other key messages raised by the campaigners. The housing minister said the Scottish Government were continuing to ask Westminster to set up a UK Raac fund. However, he admitted that currently the UK Government was saying no. Mr McLennan pointed to Raac now being found in Wales and other previous instances where it was found in England. 'We believe it's a UK Raac issue and we've asked the UK Government to set up a Raac fund. 'They've said no at this stage, but we've went back to them.' The Courier is asking people to sign a petition to help homeowners gain a voice at Westminster. Dundee Raac campaign chairman, Wayne Hoskins, said it had been a good meeting with the minister. He told The Courier: 'We want answers for homeowners and tenants. 'We want answers on mortgages, we can't get mortgages on our property. 'How do we restore these to market value? We're losing £30k-40k on these properties.' The housing minister said he would return to Dundee for a public meeting on the issue.
