One of 2degrees’ worries is that it's focussed, at present, exclusively on the prepay market - and prepayers are often tardy about topping it up, especially when there’s any competition for their discretionary dollar (read: Vodafone’s Big Wednesday blues).

For the first time, New Zealand pre-pay mobile plans are cheaper than the OCED average, the Commerce Commission said today.

The result was the key finding reported in the commission’s latest Telecommunications Market Monitor report, which covers the first six months to June 2009, and includes commentary on the months after.

Previously, New Zealand’s best ranking in the OECD’s ranking of pre-pay plans was 26th least-affordable out of 30.

Vodafone continues to sweeten its mobile broadband deals ahead of Telecom’s “T Day” launch of its own 3G network in June.

While mobile data remains bracingly more expensive than landline broadband, a flurry of new plans are helping to narrow the gap. Expect more, and sharper deals - including tastier 12 and 24-month contracts - as T Day bears down.

Motorists wanting to open a pre-pay account for the much-hyped Northern Gateway toll road will find it costs them more than they were expecting.

The toll itself is a snip at $2 a trip for cars and $4 for heavier vehicles.

But the New Zealand Transport Agency, which is operating the road, is insisting that pre-pay accounts have $44 credit loaded onto them to begin with and are automatically topped up when this credit dwindles to $24.