Rip-off Eir - Ireland needs a 4G+ > 5G competing mobile network

Impetus

The eircom.com URL is up for sale by a domain squatter, (instead of being re-directed to an eir* something domain). Whoever is responsible should be asked to consider his/her position. It demonstrates how careless and incompetent the company is.

Eir mobile re-branding seems to be an excuse to increase mobile phone charges 10x, and a two fingers exercise to the EU’s roam like home regulation.

Ireland’s telecommunications market is packed with incompetent companies – not just Eir.

The merger of three.ie and O2 to create the worst network in the country is a case in point.

Ireland’s mobile market needs a fourth competitor. A company that can focus on 4G+ (using various frequencies, depending on urban or rural cellsite locations), with Voice over LTE and Voice over Wifi) – using a platform designed to evolve to 5G. Most smart phones support VoLTE, which offers better call quality and faster call set-up. An ISDN phone takes a few milliseconds to establish a call – virtually anywhere in Europe. While mobile is derived from ISDN, the delays caused by exchange of encryption keys, and using backstreet call carriers, leaves the non VoLTE phone feel like something 40 years old when it comes to call set-up speed. And an ISDN phone has name display so if you call company X, you see Company X – Reception on your phone’s display. (Assuming the ISDN system is properly installed). When you are transferred to Mr Dupuis, his name shows up on your phone’s display. Mobile phone networks should also be configured to support name display.

Lazy.

Heads need to roll in Comreg, unless we see reform to the system to bring competition to mobile phone services, and turn fiber (FTTP) into a reality - not just a, marketing lie.

ED E

Most of the spectrum has been auctioned until 2030, good luck starting a network with 20Mhz of high frequency TDD.

Impetus

ED E wrote: »

Most of the spectrum has been auctioned until 2030, good luck starting a network with 20Mhz of high frequency TDD.

I know. The issue is one of regulator mis-management of the spectrum. And how the existing tri-nopoly is taking advantage of the position. Perhaps an audit of the available bands on typical smart-phones, and what spectrum is unsanctioned in Ireland, might throw up some spectrum space.

For example, has the DTT 'digital dividend' been fully spoken for? I suspect that there is much that could be done with 700 MHz spectrum to provide mobile phone coverage in rural areas - because lower frequencies travel greater distances. 3600 to 4200 work should largely be conveyed to fixed locations over fiber optic and that wireless spectrum released to mobile - or at least a part of same. There are probably other areas of spectrum which have 'dubious' roles in the 'plan' that could be released for mobile wireless.

When I visit Ireland, particularly remote areas, mobile phone coverage is in the 1980s or worse. And I am roaming with access to all networks - but often none are available. Why people in rural areas (and visitors / tourists) put up with this is beyond me.

The other issue is that "roam like home" seems to on course to be massaged into "home like roam in the 1980s" - where tiny amounts of broadband connectivity are being peddled for extortionate amounts - for 'home' use - and by the way you can also use this in EU/EEA - which tends to indicate that there is a monopoly at work somewhere in the system. If Comreg is unable to deal with this, it is a matter for competition legislation generally.

It is bad enough for German car manufacturers to engage in a 'smog kartel'. Mobile telephony involves public resources = ie wireless spectrum. There are many brands of cars on the market. It is un-restricted. Unlike the choice of mobile phone. The system is so tied up in Ireland that one can't even buy a mobile phone in Ireland without the device being locked down to a particular network. This restricts competition and the subsidy of mobile phone appliances is de-facto money lending - without a money lender's or banking license. If a customer owns their mobile phone (ie paid the full price), there is no reason for them to be locked into 12 or 24 month contracts. If one buys brand x toothpaste in Dunnes Stores - that doesn't lock you into buying the same toothpaste from the same shop for any period into the future. The same should apply to mobile telephony.