Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2004
42 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in regard to his plans to reduce roaming charges for mobile phone users in Border areas whose phones may stray on to UK networks; if his attention has been drawn to ComReg’s response to his recent policy directive on the issue that it can only be dealt with on a pan-European basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25644/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I have responsibility for overall telecoms policy, but the regulation of call roaming charges, comes under ComReg's jurisdiction, as regulator.
Minimising cross-Border roaming costs on the island of Ireland would be beneficial for all Irish mobile phone users, particularly those who live close to the Border and I welcome the continuous work being done by ComReg in this area.
The policy direction to which the Deputy refers, issued in March of this year, directed ComReg to work closely with the operators and OfCom, the regulator for Northern Ireland, to encourage and support initiatives that could reduce or eliminate cross-Border roaming charges, and encourage national call charging on an all-island basis. Both Vodafone and O2 offer an all Ireland tariff, for an accompanying subscription.
I understand that the issue of inadvertent roaming when mobile users near the Border inadvertently cross on to another network, without actually crossing any border, has been discussed at a number of Ireland-UK bilateral meetings and that ComReg continues to work with OfCom on seeking further progress on this issue. A working group has been established by the two regulators to consider measures on both sides of the Border to ensure competitive services. Also, ComReg has a memorandum of understanding, MoU, with the UK regulator, OfCom on cross-Border co-ordination of GSM and 3G frequencies, and there is also a MoU in place between Irish and UK operators aimed at improving co-operation in the Border region.
Another appropriate mechanism for advancing this issue is the European one. ComReg, as a member of the independent regulators group-European regulators group, is working on a co-ordinated basis with the EU Commission to look at the whole issue of international roaming as part of the market analysis review.
