Eircom cuts off Smart services due to unpaid €4m bill

More than 40,000 Smart Telecom customers have had their services cut off as part of a dispute between the company and eircom.

Eircom, which operates the network used by Smart, says it pulled the plug on most of the Smart service last night because the company has not been paying its bills.

Smart is believed to owe Eircom more than €4m.

At the moment, Smart customers cannot make any calls except emergency 999 calls, but they can still receive incoming calls.

Smart's broadband and other services could also be affected in the coming weeks.

Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey is urging both sides to engage constructively at a meeting with the Communications Regulator later this morning.