More than 90 per cent of mobile users say their operators offer at least "fair value" for money, although half of them have no idea what it costs to phone a mobile from a fixed line.
A new study on mobile use, published by ComReg, also shows that users tend not to change their calling patterns regardless of the extra cost of phoning mobiles on different networks.
The findings suggest that Irish mobile users are generally not very price sensitive, with only people aged 15-24 years and students being very cost conscious.
Surprisingly, given the recent focus on mobile pricing by an Oireachtas Committee, 94 per cent of users say their mobile operator offers "fair" or "good" overall value for money. But the survey also demonstrates that people have little idea what its costs to make or receive calls on their mobiles.
Some 53 per cent of adults say they have no idea what it costs to ring a mobile from a fixed line, with many believing it to be more expensive than it actually is.
Less than 5 per cent of users say they have chosen an operator so as they could be on the same network as a friend they ring a lot.
The highest spenders on mobiles are 25-34 year olds, who spend an average of €64 per month, and contract mobile users who spend €86 per month.
One of the biggest drivers of mobile network choice appears to be geographic coverage, with 65 per cent of respondents saying this was very important.
This could explain the poor 4 per cent market share figures recorded by Meteor as it has yet to roll out its full national network.
Branding is also a significant factor for three-quarters of mobile users, who say brand names are "very important" or "quite important" to their choice.
Despite not being particularly cost conscious, 65 per cent of mobile subscribers say the cost of line rental was a very important factor in choosing a mobile network operator. This could reflect the high cost of contract tariffs in the Republic compared with other European countries.
Similarly, more than half of respondents say mobile call tariffs are a very important factor that influenced their choice of mobile phone network.
Yet just 38 per cent say the cost of making international mobile calls was a very important issue for them.
Seven out of ten users opt for pre-paid mobiles rather than contracts because it is easier to control monthly spending.
Pre-paid options are preferred by 90 per cent of 15-24 year olds and 97 per cent of students.
The survey found 59 per cent of the population own a mobile and a fixed-line phone, with this trend most pronounced among younger phone users.
