Mobile phone users face delays for better deals as NZ Communications sets back plans for a third network and Telecom reviews its new 3G network.

The Minister of Communications, David Cunliffe, has called Vodafone and Telecom to account amid concerns the third mobile network would not be up and running at electiontime.

Newcomer NZ Communications is understood to have told Cunliffe the two phone giants were preventing it from having access to their towers and the launch for its third network had been moved from the end of this year to late 2009.

Cunliffe could not be reached for comment.

But a source close to the minister confirmed he was "very concerned" that NZ Communications should be up and running this year.

Meanwhile, with Vodafone ramping up its new WCDMA 3G network, Telecom is reviewing its plans.

The launch of its new network had been expected in November - in time for Christmas handset sales.

But Telecom has revealed that it will be limited to a "soft launch" aimed at overseas visitors and income from "roaming" - customers using their phones overseas.

Forsyth Barr telecommunications analyst Guy Hallwright said Telecom needed to improve its share of mobile revenue, in particular from roaming.

Telecom already has a 3G network that has limited use because of the limited number of handsets in the CDMA technology.

The new network would remove an impediment to roaming revenue from business customers.

The Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand said the delays were worrying. New Zealand was running out of time to prevent a mobile phone duopoly turning into a Vodafone monopoly.

TUANZ's Ernie Newman said that with Vodafone holding 53 per cent of the mobile market the situation might not appear dire.

But because of Vodafone's head-start in 3G, it was able to earn two-thirds of its revenue from mobile.

Vodafone and Telecom insist they are not trying to prevent new competition by denying access to their locations.

Vodafone says it built transmission towers to meet the Resource Management Act (RMA) and there is no room for NZ Communications unless the company goes through the long process for RMA approval to increase its towers.