Mobile phone users ‘not getting a fair deal’

WE always thought our bills were exorbitant but the phone companies rubbished our objections and told us we were just a nation of talkers and that talk didn’t come cheap.

But yesterday the European Commission endorsed a report by ComReg, the Commission on Communications Regulation, which argued that the two big players in the market,

Vodafone and O2, have a dominant position and have done little to drive down prices.

It endorsed ComReg’s view that the companies’ networks should be opened up to competition who could then operate in the market as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

Between them, Vodafone and O2 control 90% of the Irish market and account for up to 97% of revenue, the commission said.

Mobile phone users in Ireland are paying 34% more than the average European for the use of their phone, ComReg figures showed this month.

The average bill or revenue per user (ARPU) in Ireland was €47, compared to an average of €31 across Europe.

Prices in other countries were much lower, the commission found, even though consumers elsewhere spend longer on their phones.

In France, the average customer spends 213 minutes a month on their phone, at a cost of €32.80, while Irish customers use their phones for an average of 198 minutes a month, running up a bill of €44.28.

In Britain, the average phone bill is €32 for 144 minutes of use per month, while the Finns talk for about 247 minutes every month and pay just €35.26.

Both Vodafone and O2 have repeatedly denied Irish customers are being ripped off.

Yesterday, Vodafone called on ComReg to change its position on opening up the Irish mobile phone market.

“Failure to do so will leave the operator with no alternative but to refer the matter to the Electronic Communications Appeals Panel,” it said.

Meanwhile, an O2 spokeswoman said “it did not agree with the decision by Comreg that there was a lack of effective competition.”

The company said it intended to appeal the ruling.