The probability the Maori Party will have at least one minister (in or outside cabinet) in the new government has fallen below 90%, according to iPredict.

Telecom’s network division, Chorus, today announced it had finished its year-long project to roll-out 28 roadside cabinets around Taupo, making it the first North Island town to get a full fibre-to-the-node makeover.

The so-called Whisper cabinets reduce the amount of slower copper wiring in your internet connection, by extending “fibre to the node” (fttn, in industry speak); that is, from the nearest full-blown phone exchange to a roadside cabinet.

Commissioner Anita Mazzoleni has poured cold water on comments from Vodafone, Orcon, ABN Amro Craigs and Forsyth Barr that the ComCom’s sub-loop unbundling decision favours Telecom.

After speaking at the 10th annual Telecommunications and ICT conference (TelCon10) in Auckland, Commerce Commission telecommunications panel member Anita Mazzoleni responded to an NBR query about whether she was moved by the hail of criticism of the pricing set for competitors to access to Telecom’s roadside cabinets.

Setting the scene for tomorrow’s Telecommunications & ICT Summit, which will be chaired by Forsyth Barr analyst Guy Hallwright, and bring Communications and IT minister Steven Joyce together with the heads of Telecom, TelstraClear, Two Degrees, Vodafone and the Commerce Commission, Mr Hallwright critiques the commission’s sub-loop unbundling decision.

Orcon has seized on ABN Amro Craigs comments, and Telecom’s zooming share price yesterday, as proof that the Commerce Commission ruled the wrong way on sub-loop unbundling. ABN also called the commission’s pricing misleading.

Telecom shares (NZX: TEL) began yesterday at $2.59.