Eircom won’t make the grade, ComReg

Life

Telecoms regulators ComReg have expressed concern that Eircom has not meet their agreed-upon performance objectives.

Last Friday, ComReg published its quarterly Universal Service Obligations report (USO) of Eircom’s results since 1 July 2008, the focus being on the quality of connections, fault lines, and repair times.

The report shows that the company failed to meet many of its targets in the period up to the third quarter, end of March. Only 56.9% of fault repairs were completed within two days of the request, while the target was to have 80%. For instances when customers agreed upon a completion date, only 71.7% were met, versus the 95% ComReg required.

ComReg chairperson John Doherty, conveys doubt that the numbers could pick up in time. “ComReg is concerned that Eircom’s year-to-date performance is not demonstrating the anticipated level of improvement to achieve the legally-binding performance targets.”

After a cut-off point of 30 June, the final quarterly report will be published in September, at which point ComReg will determine whether Eircom has fulfilled its requirements.

In the meantime the association of licensed telecoms operators (ALTO) has released a statement calling Eircom “a degrading service”.

This does not bode well for Eircom, as ComReg’s performance targets were not mere suggestions but legally binding figures. According to ALTO, ComReg can financially penalise Eircom for not meeting the standards, chairperson Ronan Lupton endorsed this view, saying it would undermine ComReg’s purpose to let the failure go unaddressed.

Since privatisation in 1999 Eircom has received criticism since for selling their mobile component, Eircell, to Vodafone and for the slow rollout of broadband services. In 2007, Eircom increased its line rates, already the most expensive in Europe.

ComReg was established in 2002 in order to regulate the USO and decide on a universal service provider (USP). ComReg gave this title to Eircom in July 2003 for three years, and then again in July 2006. Eircom’s period as USP will end in June 2010.

Read More: Telecoms & Broadband