Telecom will change its name to Spark later this year in a radical new rebrand.
Telecom chief executive Simon Moutter says “Spark” has life and energy, links to the creativity of New Zealanders, and the modern technological economy, and as such better reflects the company's new direction.
“Spark's a fantastic name, it's a word with life, energy; it's an in-the-moment word,” Mr Moutter told Morning Report.
He said the Telecom name was born in 1987 when the company was a copper wires business.
Mr Moutter also revealed Telecom's intention to move into the internet TV market with ShowmeTV, which will launch later this year.
Response to the name change on social media has been mixed: