ComReg: Open market could slash mobile bills 25%
Mobile phone users could see their bills slashed by up to a quarter when the market is opened to competition, it emerged tonight.
The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) revealed Vodafone and O2 had joint dominance of the Irish market and that networks should be opened to other firms.
ComReg noted in other European countries where increased competition was brought in prices dropped by 25% in some cases.
Isolde Goggin, ComReg chairwoman, said the decision to introduce more competition was not taken lightly.
“We have based our decision on a very comprehensive, factual analysis of the market, and our statutory responsibilities under the European telecommunications regulatory framework,” she said.
“We expect that there will be vociferous opposition from the major operators, but we cannot let that deter us from doing what we believe to be in the interests of competition and of Irish consumers.”
ComReg’s report on the mobile market found Irish mobile prices were high in the post-paid sector, with little change in prices in the contract sector, and clear evidence other telecoms operators wanted access to networks.
ComReg was required by the European Commission to analyse the level of competition in this market following new legislation in 2003.
