Free local calls

The Government is reviewing the Kiwishare, more formally known as the Telecommunications Service Obligation.

One of the obligations is the provision of free local calls.

A few years ago I would have labelled that the most important obligation, especially as it meant people can dial in to their ISP without paying additional charges.

In the not too distant future I can see that obligation not being needed. More and more people do almost all their calls from their mobile, dial up Internet will be replaced by broadband and services such as Skype will lessen the usefulness of the obligation.

The only local calls I make on my home phone is my family and for taxis. Everyone else I call is from my mobile(s), and vice versa.