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Gnáthamharc

Mobile Telephony.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004

Tuesday, 24 February 2004

Ceisteanna (69, 70)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

158 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position with regard to his policy directive on the introduction of wholesale line rental through single billing for fixed line telecoms operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5872/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I recently published draft policy directions which I propose to give to the Communications Regulator. One of these draft directions focuses on wholesale and retail telephone line rental, recognising the importance of the single billing product to advancing competition.

The direction as drafted, mandates ComReg to introduce by Wednesday 31 March, 2004 a single billing product for voice and data services; to insist that the margin between wholesale and retail is wide enough to drive competition; and to insist that the product is accessible, affordable, and available for telecoms operators; and contains any other conditions required that will give incentive to and drive competition in this market.

These directions have been published in draft format for public consultation until Monday 1 March 2004 and I welcome input from both the industry and the public.

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

159 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will issue new policy directives to ComReg following ComReg’s recent review of the mobile phone market, which discovered that the market here has one of the highest concentrations in the EU and that both leading operators have significant market power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5866/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

In accordance with the market definition procedure outlined in the framework regulations, S.I. No. 307 of 2003, ComReg are conducting a market analysis of the wholesale mobile access and call origination. It is ComReg's preliminary view that Vodafone and O2 have a collectively dominant position. ComReg have published their findings and proposed remedies for consultation.

In addition, I have recently published draft policy directions which I propose to give to the Communications Regulator, one of which focuses on competition as a key objective for 2004 and one of which focuses on national roaming.

These draft directions will, if issued in final form, mandate ComReg to: implement where necessary, remedies which counteract or remove barriers to entry and support, in all ways possible, entry by new players to the market and entry into new sectors by existing players and; use its powers to mandate national roaming on existing GSM networks of incumbent mobile network operators on fair commercial terms subject to relevant requirements under European law.

These directions have been published in draft format for public consultation until Monday 1 March 2004 and I welcome input from both the industry and the public.

Question No. 160 answered with QuestionNo. 144.
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