Comreg: Open Vodafone's, O2's networks to other operators

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) said today that mobile operators 02 and Vodafone have such a large slice of the Irish market that they will be ordered to allow other operators access their networks.

The telecoms watchdog today published the findings of its review of the mobile phone market.

Comreg established that the market for mobile phone services in Ireland has one of the highest concentrations in the EU, with the two leading operators Vodafone and O2, sharing 95% of the market between them.

Comreg proposes that both operators will be designated as having Significant Market Power (SMP) and will be obliged to allow other operators access to their networks.

Other findings of the report include the fact that Vodafone and O2 have not made any major price changes since the arrival of Meteor into the market.

The two operators also have higher average revenues per users (ARPU).

The Irish ARPU is significantly higher that those ARPUs earned in the majority of EU countries.

In the past, Vodafone and O2 have claimed that higher usage of mobile phones are the reason for this higher ARPU figure.

However, Comreg has found the "evidence for this inconclusive".

Comreg believes that the best way to ensure that customers get a better deal is through enhanced competition and therefore proposes to introduce national roaming in order to strengthen the competitive offering of the other mobile network operators by enabling them to give greater phone coverage to their customers throughout the country.

ComReg is also currently consulting on whether Vodafone and O2 should also be obliged to provide access to Service Providers, such as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

This could allow service-based telecoms companies to compete in the mobile market without having to build a full mobile network.