Mobile firms pledge 10% a year drop in call charges

IRELAND’S top mobile phone companies yesterday promised to reduce call charges by as much as 10% a year for the next couple of years.

Put under the spotlight by the Oireachtas Communications Committee chairman Noel O’Flynn, O2 and Vodafone both denied they were operating a price cartel and that customers were being ripped off.

Last week telecommunications regulator Etain Doyle told the committee that the average monthly Irish mobile bill was €45 compared to a €30 EU average.