According to official data released, thousands of users of mobile phones across the country have given up on Vodafone and Telecom and joined the 2degrees bandwagon. The figures have been confirmed by the new popular network in a report released yesterday.

According to 2degrees figures, as many as 42,500 mobile phone subscribers have been added to its network since it launched in August this year, and a whopping 85% have joined in from Vodafone. The new figures are a definite sign of how the newly launched network is winning over customers from its much older competitors.

According to a statement issued by spokesperson Paul Brislen on the behalf of Vodafone, the company had expected tough competition from the new operator, so the figures have come as no surprise.

"The main reason so many Vodafone users have changed over is because we have the same technology in our phones so it’s easy for them to switch", said 2degrees spokesperson Bryony Hilless, while revealing that by next year, the company is looking at making its network 3G capable. "For the first time there are going to be three providers in New Zealand offering 3G. There’s been nothing likes that in this country before", he said.