Eircell has moved to resolve what has been dubbed called the "Silent Friday" phenomenon for mobile phone users in the west and midlands by installing a new exchange in Galway from today. The company also plans a further new mobile exchange in Sligo before the weekend to ensure greater network capacity in the region. This follows an outcry over the failure of the network on three successive Fridays due to what was described as "local congestion".
In a statement, Eircell has explained that due to an "unprecedented increase" in the use of mobile phones, network traffic in the west has been reaching record levels in recent weeks.
The company says it is currently implementing a major investment programme to the value of £2 million a week and, by the end of next month, it will have over 100 more base stations in addition to the 800 already in service.
