Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 333: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the telecommunications charges in the context of comparable unit costs in comparison to other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14001/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

International comparisons of telecommunications costs generally are increasingly complex to measure and compare. This difficulty arises from the increasing level of competition in telecommunications markets delivering a wide choice of options to customers with different terms and conditions applicable, including free or reduced rental and call charges, differing usage conditions and limits and, increasingly, service providers offering bundled services.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent telecommunications market regulator in Ireland, publishes quarterly statistical reports, which include international comparisons of retail telecommunications charges for residential and business customers, prepared by Teligen using an OECD approved methodology. The tables for September 2011, from ComReg's Quarter 3 2011 report, are available on ComReg's website athttp://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg1198.pdfhttp://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg1198.pdf

Ireland ranks 12th of the EU countries surveyed, two places below the average of the benchmarked countries for fixed-line type telephony charges available to residential customers. Ireland ranks 2nd and ten places below the average of the benchmarked countries for fixed-line type telephony charges available to business customers (figures 2.4.1.1 and 2.4.2.1 in the ComReg report refer).

Ireland ranks 17th of the EU countries surveyed for broadband charges per month for both residential and business customers. This is slightly below the EU average cost for business customers and slightly above the EU average cost in the case of residential customers (figures 3.6.2 and 3.6.3 in the ComReg report refer).

In the mobile telephony category, the Teligen surveys compare prices for low, medium and high post-pay services and a prepaid service. Ireland is ranked 12th and two places below the benchmarked country average for low usage; 7th and 6 places below the benchmarked average for medium usage; 7th and 4 places below the average for high usage and 15th, which is 3 places above the average, for prepaid service (figures 4.8.1.1, 4.8.2.1, 4.8.3.1 and 4.8.4.1 respectively in the ComReg report refer).

However, as stated above, these comparison tables do not measure other factors including quality of service, actual usage or permitted maximum limits nor do they measure pricing of more complex bundled services nor the rates negotiated bilaterally by large users connected via leased lines. In addition, the Teligen surveys typically compare the pricing options of service providers with the largest market share by platform type, which may not necessarily include the lowest priced options available in all cases.