ALTO, the body representing new entrant operators in Ireland’s telecoms market has expressed its frustration at the lack of progress in local loop unbundling.

IRELAND has come near the bottom of the class in the latest survey of broadband internet penetration.

EIRCOM faces the prospect of hefty fines from tomorrow after the telecoms regulator threatened it with court action for repeatedly ignoring its orders.

IRISH mobile phone operators are earning excessive profits from their customers, who pay the most expensive charges in Europe, according to a damming new report from the telecoms watchdog.

The failure of new entrant operators in Ireland’s telecom sector to win public sector contracts is an anomaly which must be addressed, according to ALTO, the representative association of alternative operators in the communications market.

Eircom has come in for criticism at an Oireachtas Committee hearing today.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (Comreg) has been severely criticised for approving the latest Eircom line rental hike.

MINISTER for Communications Dermot Ahern says he wants prices in the telecommunications sector to fall or he will intervene in the market.

ALTO, the association representing Alternative Operators in the communications market, has slammed a new wholesale broadband service – Partial Private Circuits - introduced by eircom.

The association representing alternative operators in the communications market has slammed a new wholesale broadband service introduced by eircom.

ComReg, the telecom watchdog has laid down new rules that will prevent Eircom from trying to win back customers lost to rivals for three months.

Eircom has cut the price of broadband access charges for retail customers. From the beginning of October to January 6 the company will provide broadband to new customers with free connection, free modem and one month’s free rental.

ALTO, the industry group representing telecomms operators in Ireland, has expressed "strong disappointment" at the failure of ComReg to take action on mobile termination rates.

Fixed line operator, eircom has been hit hard by charges it had to take as a result of restructuring moves and the sale of its mobile unit, Eircell to Vodafone.

Iarla Flynn has hit out at the 'cosy cartel' between Digifone and Eircell/Vodafone which, he says is keeping mobile phone charges artificially high and is costing Irish businesses millions of pounds every year.