NZ regulator to inquire into mobile roaming costs

WELLINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand's competition regulator said on Tuesday it would look at whether price controls should be imposed on the cost of connecting to competing mobile phone services.

The Commerce Commission said the cost of roaming between mobile phone networks might be "significantly above cost".

It said it also had other concerns regarding national roaming, and the mobile market in general, including the ability of future market entrants to negotiate competitive agreements in a timely manner.

The Commission would start its investigation into national roaming in August, with a view to releasing a draft report in mid October and completing the investigation by the end of February 2010.

The regulator also said it planned to recommend that the price of calling a mobile phone from a fixed line connection be regulated because current prices were too high.

New Zealand's mobile phone market is dominated by Telecom (TEL.NZ) and the local unit of Britain's Vodafone (VOD.L).