The industry group representing telecoms operators in Ireland has urged the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to introduce interim prices for fixed-to-mobile calls.
ALTO, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators, made its calls following the decision by the Italian regulator to force mobile operators to impose price reductions.
The ruling will see rates for fixed-to-mobile access charges fall by 34pc over three years with a 12pc cut taking effect from June onwards.
In total savings of over €270m are estimated to result from the ruling.
Last month British regulator Oftel ordered mobile operators there to cut their charge by between 15 and 30pc.
According to ALTO, access charges – ie the costs charged by a mobile operator to a fixed-line operator for a call from a landline to a mobile phone – represent a cost of more than €300m per annum on the Irish telecoms industry.
By Suzanne Byrne
