Eircom slow in tackling LLU problems - ComReg

bealtine

http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/1124/comreg.html?rss

Eircom slow in tackling LLU problems - ComReg

November 24, 2006 20:23

The communications regulator has said despite some progress on Local Loop Unbundling (LLU), significant issues remain unresolved - and Eircom is too slow in addressing them.

ComReg said poor performance by Eircom in repairing faults, significant problems in order provisioning and restrictions imposed by Eircom on consumers' ability to seamlessly move between service providers are the main issues.

The local loop is the connection between a local telephone exchange and a customer's premises.

The vast majority are owned by Eircom, which is legally obliged to give access to other operators to these loops so that they may provide their own services to customers.

Commissioner, John Doherty, said although progress has been made in a number of key areas, some issues remain unresolved and the pace that they are being addressed by Eircom is unacceptable in a dynamic market.

ComReg said industry talks continue on the development of a long-term, more efficient product to allow number portability - which allows a customers to keep their number when changing operator.

'ComReg believes it has given more than sufficient time and support to enable outstanding matters to be resolved commercially and is considering what further interventions are necessary to move this critical process forward,' he added.

Charlie Ardagh of Magnet Networks said the growth of broadband take up in Ireland is based on the effectiveness of Local Loop Unbundling.

He called on ComReg and the Government to take direct action to ensure that the necessary improvements are made immediately.

Liam Byrne

Pity that the article doesn't explain in real terms what this means to the customer...that eircom are preventing them choosing the best/cheapest package unless they change their phone number.

It was done for mobiles, and it's about time it was done for home phones and broadband.

Blaster99

I would have thought the biggest problem (or at least as big a problem) is eircom's insistence that all non-voice or non-eircom services are cancelled before the switch can even be ordered. Seeing as it has taken many people some number of months to complete change-over, you will be without broadband for quite a while.

watty

Yes you have to cancel CPS