2degrees strikes home zone deal with Telecom Wholesale

2degrees and Telecom have announced they have reached a deal on a home zone calling rate.

Accordingly, 2degrees has dropped its complaint to the Commerce Commission on the issue.

A so-called home zone mobile deal allows you to make calls on your mobile at a special rate when inside a designated “local zone”.

Although little promoted, Vodafone already has a home zone plan (here) which includes unlimited national calls for $20 a month when using your mobile inside its designated local zone.

Such plans are attractive to those looking to ditch their Telecom landline - but the catch is that they do require an interconnection deal with Telecom. Vodafone  introduced its local zone plan following a Commerce Commission ruling in its favour.

2degrees previously complained that it faced a wait of around nine months for the commission to investigate a local zone deal with Telecom Wholesale on its behalf - especially given that a similar ruling had been made on Vodafone’s behalf.

Vodafone was indignant at the comparison. The carrier says it requested, and got, a local zone that applies to the immediate proximity of a person’s home, whereas 2degrees had cheekily asked for a local zone with no geographic boundary.

2degrees and Telecom will not comment on the geographic, financial or other terms of their home zone deal.

Telecom Wholesale's statement:

Telecom Wholesale is delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached with 2degrees on matters related to interconnection services for 2degrees’ local mobile offering. 2degrees has accordingly agreed to withdraw its application to the Commerce Commission for a determination on terms for these interconnection services.