Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses were coming before the committee. A number of my questions are for Mr. Chisholm. The main mobile phone operators, including Vodafone, O2, Meteor and Tesco, obtain a licence from the regulator to provide a service. I am sure hundreds of pages of conditions are attached to it. What monitoring is done to ensure they comply with their licence conditions? The Vodafone signal has been deteriorating and weakening in large parts of Ireland. I know of many locations throughout the country where the previously modest signal from Vodafone has become very poor. The service which the licence stated should be provided is not being provided. How often does the regulator audit masts to examine signal strength? What is the regulator doing to ensure those who pay for a service continue to receive it? Vodafone has failed in the delivery of its signal and it is deteriorating in some areas. I seek reassurance from the regulator that something will be done about it. The company exists to make a profit and if it can cut costs and corners and possibly weaken the signal and have a few additional grey signal patches, it can probably cope with it. It is an issue.

Does the regulator have a role with Sky? The regulator has some responsibility for broadcasting.