Telecom has brought forward the timing of the wholesaling of its new 3G mobile network by nearly a year.
Telecom defied the expectations of analysts by yesterday, reporting a 64,000 net increase in mobile connections on its ultra fast XT network, during the three months ended September.
The promised Telecom 3G mobile network will be available to customers from 6.30pm on May 13, along with a range of new devices that Telecom hopes will lift it above the smart phones and services being offered by competitors.
Telecom says it has no plans to abandon its public pay phones, despite the huge rise in mobile phone use in the past five years.
Vodafone said today it is launching a fixed line broadband in New Zealand that will also offer home phone lines.
Telecom New Zealand's third-quarter earnings are expected to have fallen by as much as 21% in the three months to March.
Telecom is increasing its prices for home line rentals, and admits those in three main centres receive a cheaper rate - up to $7 a month - than everyone else.
Telecom has been told to rethink its plan for operational separation after Communications Minister David Cunliffe yesterday rejected the amended plan filed by New Zealand's largest listed company.