Rabbitte rules out Comreg stipulation of 100% mobile coverage

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has refused to force Comreg to oblige mobile phone operators to provide coverage across the whole country.

In response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson for horticulture and rural affairs, Seamus Kirk, Mr Rabbitte said that the auction of mobile phone radio spectrum, which is the equivalent of telephone cables for mobile phone operators, was not a suitable area for him to issue a policy direction to the regulator.

Mr Kirk said that RTÉ is obliged to cover 99.99% of Ireland and the same obligations should be extended to mobile phone operators.