Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Why has mobile phone coverage throughout west Cork and elsewhere in the country regressed in the past 12 months? Prior to the merger of the mobile service providers O2 and Three, figures show that they had a total of 3,180 masts. However, once the merger is fully complete by 2019 there will be a total of 2,300 masts, which implies a loss of 880. Mobile phone coverage, in west Cork in particular, is suffering because Three has cut the equivalent of 68% of its masts. ComReg is not intervening on the removal of 880 mobile masts, mainly in rural communities. I call on the Minister to ensure it will investigate the O2 and Three merger in terms of the effect it has had on mobile phone coverage.

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