Guide to cheaper calls to the North

SIMPLE steps to cut the cost of making calls to Northern Ireland have been published by communications regulator ComReg.

A new consumer guide advises phone users based in the Republic to use the special 048 prefix to dial Northern fixed-line numbers instead of the 004428 international code.

The regulator also advises those living in border areas to switch off the setting on their mobiles that automatically routes calls through the best signal. This prevents calls being routed through British mobile networks.