SYDNEY, April 24 (UPI) -- Australia's Telstra proposed consolidating the Tasman roaming territory in a move that would save travelers about $31 million a year.
Telstra submitted the proposal to the Australian Parliamentary Committee that reviews economic ties between Australia and New Zealand.
About 2 million travelers shuttle across the Tasman Straits every year, and the consolidation plan would streamline technology, billing and connectivity in a manner that would greatly increase efficiency and lower costs.
"In the area of telecommunications, Australia has more far-reaching free trade commitments with the US and Singapore than it has with New Zealand," Telstra Regulatory Affairs Manager Tony Warren said in a news release.
Telstra already has a strong presence in New Zealand. Its TelstraClear unit is the second-largest Kiwi wireless carrier behind Telecom New Zealand.
