Telecom's problem-plagued XT mobile network was affected by another fault on Thursday, with services in the upper North Island down for about four hours.
Telecom says there were difficulties with voice, data, and text services for two-and-a-half hours from north of the Bombay Hills to Northland. However, some XT customers say the problems lasted for four hours from 9am.
Telecom's e-mails to corporate customers say up to 200 cell sites were affected.
The company activated an emergency services contingency plan and monitored 111 calls.
The fault is the latest in a series of problems that have plagued the XT network since its launch in May last year. Until now, most problems have been experienced from Taupo south.
Telecom says it apologises unreservedly for the problems experienced by XT customers.
A spokesperson says there will be no blanket compensation, but it will consider approaches from individual customers.
Erratic coverage concerns fire chief
Kaitaia's fire chief was among many customers affected by the fault. Colin Kitchen also co-ordinates volunteer brigades throughout the region, where the fire risk is currently high due to the drought.
Mr Kitchen says he just picked up his new Telecom phone on Thursday morning, but by 9am it was not working and he could not send or receive calls for the next three hours.
The Fire Service has radio telephones, but also relies heavily on cell phones, and erratic coverage is a serious issue for an emergency service, he says.
