Phone companies have revealed the extent of Govt agency spying on their networks, with more than 70 secret wire taps last year in New Zealand alone.

Telecom says more details of its online television service are "close" and will be unveiled before the company changes its name to Spark in August.

Telecom has suffered a massive technical fault today, with many of its systems - including its own corporate website - down for most of the day.

Talk on the outside says the fibre fast track process can only lead to one thing - the price going up and yet again favouring Chorus shareholders, writes Chris Barton.

Warehouse boss Mark Powell wasn't afraid to speak candidly about his pay packet with business journalists in Auckland last week.

Telecom says it will ditch the name of its soon-to-launch internet television service, ShowmeTV, after two companies with similar brand names raised concerns.

Telecom believes a problem affecting a small part of its North Island broadband network has been resolved.

So Telecom is to become Spark, launch ShowMeTV and become "the Netflix of New Zealand", writes Chris Barton. What a confusing confluence.

The NZX will run out of steam unless companies, particularly the larger ones, can take advantage of the stronger economy, writes Brian Gaynor.

Telecom has unveiled a partnership with Spotify and will offer some mobile customers free accounts with the online music giant.

Telecom's ShowMeTV should cut another chink in Sky Television's armour built up over 25 years of being a pay television monopoly, writes John Drinnan.

Sky Network TV's share price has rallied sharply after the company produced a 22pc lift in its first-half net profit, appearing to shrug off any threat from Telecom.

Two NZ companies with similar names to Telecom's internet TV venture, ShowmeTV, say resulting consumer confusion will have "massive implications" on their businesses.

Telecom has revealed its plan to become the Netflix of New Zealand by providing movies and TV shows to subscribers over the internet.

Private companies should change their names only after much consideration.

If Telecom harbours the spark of innovation its new name suggests, its internet TV venture could finally crack Sky TV's monopoly on premium content.

Telecom chief executive Simon Moutter says his company's name change is a "marker", showing that its future is very different from its past.

Telecom "hanging up"on its old name and brand threatens to eclipse the really big news for consumers this morning, Hamish Fletcher writes

Telecom intends to change its name later this year to Spark and will launch its own internet TV service called ShowmeTV.

A former Telecom employee has taken the communications company to court, appealing against his sacking for allegedly falsifying a medical certificate while holidaying in Fiji.

Telecom is expected to have attracted more mobile customers in the second half of last year.