Telecom has asked the SFO to investigate an alleged breach of its database that allowed rival Slingshot to gain access to customer information.

Vector, shut out late last year from the Government's ultra fast broadband plan, has now been selected for priority talks to roll out fibre in Auckland.

Telecom's profits are down, but the company is refusing to be drawn on how the Govt's Ultra Fast Broadband contract might affect profits.

Awarding Telecom and Vodafone the task of building the rural broadband network could stifle competition, say industry players.

The Govt is close to striking a deal with Telecom and Vodafone for its rural broadband initiative.

BT was yesterday accused of undermining one of the founding principles of the internet - that of "net neutrality" - by creating a two-tier system which would allow content providers to charge for a faster video delivery service.

Telecom won't face regulatory intervention over its premium copper-based VDSL2 broadband service which guarantees speeds of 15Mb/s up, 5Mb/s down.