Phone charges set to rise 5%

TELEPHONE bills are set for a 5% across-the-board increase following a decision by the industry watchdog yesterday to ease the price controls placed on Eircom.

The increase follows on a raft of other price hikes over the past five weeks including a 13% increase in electricity charges and an 8% rise in bus and train fares.

But last night the Communications Commissioner Etain Doyle, who regulates the telecom sector, said the decision to ease the price control on the main service provider struck a balance between consumer and phone company interests.