Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2011
432 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he will take against termination charges for mobile phone users; his views on whether this is the key reason for supernormal profits in the mobile industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22178/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the wholesale mobile voice call termination market is a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
I am anxious to ensure that mobile termination rates (MTRs) charged by Irish service providers are in line with those charged elsewhere in Europe and that Irish citizens and businesses benefit from the lowest call costs possible. Following regulatory intervention by ComReg in this market, commitments have been obtained from the main Irish mobile network operators to reduce their MTRs such that maximum Irish MTRs would be approximate to the European average — details of these commitments are publicly available in Information Notice 10/82 published on ComReg's website.
Building on previous decreases, the latest reductions in MTRs took effect from 1 July, with the blended average MTRs reducing by approximately 17% on the rates which applied in the previous six months. These latest reductions, with further planned reductions every six months through to the end of 2012, will continue to ensure that Irish average MTRs are in line with the European average.
I understand that a further review by ComReg of the wholesale mobile voice call termination market is currently under way and ComReg plans to consult on its preliminary findings later this year, including the imposition of an appropriate wholesale price control (to be in effect from 2013) and other regulatory obligations.
