Rabbitte rules out Comreg stipulation of 100% mobile coverage

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has refused to force Comreg to oblige mobile phone operators to provide coverage across the whole country.

In response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson for horticulture and rural affairs, Seamus Kirk, Mr Rabbitte said that the auction of mobile phone radio spectrum, which is the equivalent of telephone cables for mobile phone operators, was not a suitable area for him to issue a policy direction to the regulator.

Mr Kirk said that RTÉ is obliged to cover 99.99% of Ireland and the same obligations should be extended to mobile phone operators.

“The auction has commenced for the release of spectrum rights of use in the 800MHz, 900MHz, and 1800MHz frequency bands,” said Mr Kirk. ” These rights are a valuable state asset and should be treated accordingly.

“It is disappointing that a condition to have 100% coverage, or as close to [100%] as possible, across the territory of the State is not being attached.

“RTÉ has a coverage rate of 99.99%. Why do we settle for less for mobile coverage?”

Fears have already been raised that Comreg’s decision to set the minimum coverage obligation at 70% of the population, not geographic area, could result in a massive reduction in the coverage available for mobile phone users in more remote areas.

As it stands, 70% of Ireland’s population live in just 10% of Ireland’s geographic area — the densely-populated east coast.

In other jurisdictions, the mobile phone operators have to provide coverage for up to 95% of the population. Mr Kirk held up Germany as an example, where the minimum coverage obligation is 90% of the population, and Britain, where it is 95%

Mr Rabbitte said that Comreg expects competition to keep the level of coverage considerably higher than the 70% stipulated.

“ComReg considered that actual coverage levels are expected to exceed the 70% population obligation by a considerable margin given the competitive nature of the market and the limited risk of roll-back of coverage from the existing levels,” he said.

Mr Kirk said that any future auctions by Comreg should have include a condition forcing operators to cover as close to 100% of the population as possible.