Perlico plans assault on telecoms market

COMPETITION in the telecoms market is about to heat up with another operator announcing expansion plans.

Perlico, an Irish-owned telecom service provider, said it would step up its assault on the market claiming it would undercut Eircom’s prices.

The company said it will offer not only lower telephone charges than the competition but will provide voice, single billing, broadband DSL and internet dial-up to both residential and corporate customers.

Iain McDonald, Perlico’s chief executive said in some cases it is cheaper than Eircom by up to 90%.

He claimed Irish business and residential consumers were becoming increasingly frustrated with the “bureaucracy of Eircom and the outrageously high prices they are being charged”.

Mr McDonald said the recent price agreed between Eircom and Comreg for wholesale line rental was too high.

“It is widely acknowledged that Irish telecom users continue to pay line rental charges that are amongst the highest in Europe.”

However, Eircom said yesterday that its call prices have dropped by 47% in the last seven years. It also said yesterday’s National Competitive Council report showed phone prices in Ireland are among the lowest in Europe and that the cost of entry-level broadband services has halved over the last 12 months.