Eircom Receives Ultimatum Over Flat Rate Internet Access

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

09 January 2003

Ireland's Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has laid down an ultimatum for telecommunications giant, Eircom, allowing it just one month to provide the regulator with details of a cost-oriented wholesale rate which would be charged to other telecoms operators for the provision of a flat rate internet service to retail clients.

Eircom originally fell out with the head of ComReg, Etain Doyle in 2001, when it announced that it intended to charge other companies 75 euros per month to resell high-speed broadband DSL connections to business consumers. Now, however, it appears that Ms Doyle has reached the end of her tether with the company, and the monopoly provider has been given until February 24 to make public details of the exact prices at which the service will be offered to other operators.

According to a report in the Irish Independent on Wednesday:

'ComReg has also told Eircom through an information notice that unless it agrees to supply a flat rate internet access call origination (FRIACO) product to other operators, it will not be allowed to provide such a service itself.'

Although a spokesperson for Eircom told the Irish Independent that the company would not be making any comment until it had reviewed ComReg's decision in detail, observers have suggested that the incumbent provider is likely to seek legal advice.

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