Vodafone Sues Telecom New Zealand over Network Interference

Vodafone New Zealand has launched legal action to stop the launch of rival operator, Telecom New Zealand's own 3G network - citing radio interference problems. Vodafone is claiming that Telecom's network is interfering with its own and it has been suffering customer complaints.

The charge is strongly denied by Telecom which issued a strident statement decrying Vodafone's tactics as anti-competitive.

"This is a piece of aggressive behaviour that betrays Vodafone's insecurities about competition from Telecom's new XT mobile network, just 13 days away from launch," said Telecom chief executive Paul Reynolds.

That a problem exists is not in dispute though - as Telecom admitted that its engineers had been working with their Vodafone counterparts to resolve the interference issues.

Dr Reynolds said, on the information received so far, Vodafone's technical problems with coverage and other issues were substantially of its own making, and not the responsibility of Telecom New Zealand. He pledged that Telecom's 3G launch will take place as planned on the 13th May.

Posted to the site on 1st May 2009