Irish Broadband launch cheap deal!

vinnyfitz

Well not really actually.
It turns out they originally told Comreg they would offer a service at €21.07 ex VAT when they sought their licence. The only problem is they have not been promoting it to customers.
Jamie Smith has a great article in the Irish Times about it today.

Link here

Customers who have signed up for Irish Broadband's entry-level wireless internet service may be paying up to €4.50 per month more than they could be.



The firm, which is owned by National Toll Roads and Kilsaran Concrete, became embroiled in a dispute this week with rival firms and the regulator over its adherence to its broadband licence.

It is understood the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has told the firm to provide details of its €25.49 per month service, which the firm had pledged to introduce in the initial licence competition.

Up until yesterday, Irish Broadband had only been actively marketing a €29.99 per month entry-level broadband service for customers. This service offers customers broadband at a speed of 512 kilobytes per second and is paid through a bill every month.

However, in a competition organised by ComReg to award licences to applicant firms with the best offerings, Irish Broadband pledged to introduce a cheaper service for consumers.

The licence obligations, which have been obtained by The Irish Times, show Irish Broadband pledged to introduce a 512 kilobyte per second service for €21.07 excluding VAT. When VAT is added, this service should cost €25.49 per month.

In the products section of Irish Broadband's website, the firm has only actively marketed its €29.99 broadband service - called Ripwave - to people. Up until Thursday, there was no mention of the cheaper Ripwave product on this part of the site.

And the sales department did not mention the cheap service to The Irish Times yesterday in a call to a sales person until it was brought to their attention.

An Irish Broadband spokeswoman said yesterday that customers hadn't to date signed up for the cheaper product. "It is not a product that we push but it does comply with the regulations," said the spokeswoman, who added that it would be looking at its pricing policy again shortly.

But following the meeting with ComReg and other wireless operators this week, Irish Broadband posted a new section on its website (labelled ComReg compliance), in which it lists the €21.07-per-month product as available to people who pay a year in advance. The compliance section of the website also lists the cheapest business service for a fee of €51.82 excluding VAT.

It is understood that wireless operators that took part in the licence competition organised by ComReg have raised the pricing issue with the regulator. At least one operator that lost out to Irish Broadband in the competition has alleged that it is not complying with licence obligations.

A ComReg spokesman said yesterday that Irish Broadband remained in compliance with the terms of its licence obligations.

A full list of licence obligations for wireless operators is published below. All the broadband products should be available to consumers who ask for them at the prices listed plus a 21 per cent charge to account for VAT.

Last night, ComReg said it would publish the obligations.



© The Irish Times

dahamsta

Haven't they been running Ripwave for a year, maybe even two? ComReg just noticed?

adam

Stark

Well done Comreg.

I saw mention of a "capped" Ripwave option on the order forms before, wondered what that was about.

damien

ComReg were made notice after a complaint.

Stark

Here it is: http://www.irishbroadband.ie/pdf/PrePaidRipwave.pdf

bealtine

Stark wrote:

Well done Comreg.

You don't seriously think Comreg actually did something voluntarily
now do you?

Like check for compliance or something useful like that...

vinnyfitz

Last night, ComReg said it would publish the obligations.

One wonders why these have been secret untill now? If Comreg is not prepared to supervise licensees and their obligations, the least it should do is publish license agreements as a matter of course. Then, at least, consumers would have some hope of getting value.

Are other Telcos' licence obligations being implemented correctly? Are they also going to be published now? Or are they already in the public domain?

When ComReg was advised of the €21.07 price were they also told it was a 12 month pre paid gig? If so I presume they realised that this was not really a credible starter option for consumers. After all, who is going to pony up €305 in one lump sum for 12 months before they even see if wireless broadband works for them?

If I am right did ComReg go back to IBB and ask "right, tell us what is your real basic residential option?" If not, why not?

On the other hand if IBB misled ComReg by quoting the monthly price without revealing the sting in the tail, then do ComReg have the power to force IBB to compensate consumers who have been overcharged by the €4.50 a month?

Stark

bealtine wrote:

Stark wrote:

Well done Comreg

You don't seriously think Comreg actually did something voluntarily
now do you?

Like check for compliance or something useful like that...

Nah, I was being sarcastic