New Zealand: Vodafone has sought interim relief against radio interference from Telecom NZ, asking its 3G network to be shut down

[nbr] Papers filed today in the Auckland High Court reveal the ambitious scope of Vodafone’s legal action against Telecom’s new mobile network - interference from which, it says, is costing it customers and threatening emergency calls.

Vodafone wants XT shut down, preventing a May 13 launch, and not fired up again until interference issues are resolved.

In asking for an interim injunction to stop Telecom using any of its W-CDMA (“3G”) transmitters, Vodafone’s solicitor writes that “Telecom has existing mobile telephony networks it can provide a service to its customers [over] even if an injunction is granted”.

By contrast, “Telecom’s actions are to prevent Vodafone from effectively operating its network” thereby giving Telecom an “illegitimate competitive advantage”.

Vodafone to court: switch off Telecom’s XT network