'No justifiable basis' for spectrum tax
ANY attempts to bring back 'flawed' spectrum charge proposals would fail, Sure's chief executive Eddie Saints has said.
Mr Saints welcomed the withdrawal of the proposals by Commerce and Employment and its pledge of talks between the department and operators over other options that could be explored.
Commerce and Employment minister Kevin Stewart, pictured, said the department would have to carry out more work and hold discussions with mobile phone operators, as he pulled his department's report.
However, at this stage, he refused to take the concept of spectrum charging off the table completely.
Mr Saints said Sure's primary aim was to get the idea of a spectrum tax thrown out and welcomed further talks being held to determine whether there was a 'more plausible' approach.
'There was just no justifiable basis for it,' he said.
'We will get around a table and talk. Whatever is decided has to be in the best interest of the operators, consumers and, obviously, the government.'
