ComReg says legal challenges to its decisions are damaging market

The Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg) has expressed concern that legal challenges against its decisions are damaging the Irish market.

In a draft strategy plan for 2005-07 published yesterday, ComReg says it is concerned that the appeals be concluded quickly in order to bring regulatory certainty to the market.

ComReg is currently locked in a legal battle with Eircom over demands that it open its network to competitors. It also faces a number of challenges to other decisions - including its controversial ruling that Vodafone and O2 are jointly dominant in the mobile phone market - to a new appeals panel set up by the Government last year.

The appeals panel, which was established last August, is scheduled to hear several appeals to ComReg decisions. However, it will not hear its first appeal until next month due to a succession of delays in getting the body up and running.

"ComReg fully recognises the right of affected persons to bring appeals, but ComReg is concerned that they should be concluded quickly in order to bring regulatory certainty to the market," concludes the regulator.

The draft plan indicates that ComReg plans to promote more competition in the market between 2005 to 2007. It is working with the Government to develop a digital terrestrial television service across the State.

ComReg also reiterates its commitment to introduce more transparent and efficient process for opening Eircom's network.

Meanwhile, a survey commissioned by "3", the State's fourth mobile operator, has found that three-quarters of mobile phone users feel the entry of new operator will increase competition.

The survey found that 80 per cent of mobile users would welcome more choice in the market for mobile services. Just 39 per cent of people feel their mobile provider offers value for money.

The survey, which was conducted by the consultancy Lansdowne Market Research, is being published close to the official launch date of "3", which is owned by the Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa.