Eircom agrees to 'Europe's cheapest' FRIACO rate

molinaalexis

THE Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has accepted a wholesale rate of €14,728 per annum from Eircom for the introduction of flat rate internet access, after prolonged negotiations between the duo.


This is the price that Eircom will charge other operators for the provision of a Flat Rate Internet Access Call Origination (FRIACO) service.


It translates as a basic monthly charge of €12.77 although there are other administration and process charges that will be added on to this figure, which applies to a 2 megabit connection per annum.


It is believed that other operators like Esat BT and Nevadatele will now be in a position to provide a consumer rate of between €25 and €35 per month for an always-on internet service.


Market watchers said the wholesale rate is the cheapest in Europe.


FRIACO is scheduled to be offered to the public by June this year, according to deadlines set by ComReg as directed by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dermot Ahern.


Ireland is playing catch-up with much of the rest of Europe in the introduction of FRIACO.


Over the past five years, ComReg and Eircom have battled over the agreement of a wholesale rate, with the incumbent consistently dragging its heels on the issue and the regulatory body insisting that the figure be cost-oriented.


In a decision notice issued by ComReg yesterday, the body noted how low the rate is and said that in addition to the product charges, Eircom will have to use process charges set by ComReg as opposed to the rate proposed by the telco itself.


It added that the timeframe set out for the introduction of FRIACO is on schedule.




Meanwhile, Mr Ahern has unveiled his policy direction to ComReg, with a focus on the issue of FRIACO and the delivery of broadband.



Ailish O'Hora

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=187&si=924484&issue_id=8807

SkepticOne

Originally posted by molinaalexis
Market watchers said the wholesale rate is the cheapest in Europe.

As was pointed out in another thread, this is not correct.

damnyanks

Yeah but it is a good start. What are the chances of taking ISDN connections?

jd

Originally posted by damnyanks
Yeah but it is a good start. What are the chances of taking ISDN connections?

That is up to the isp.

Raskolnikov

We still have to wait till July for tangible results and forgive the pessimism but i expect Eircon will find some way of delaying this.

sceptre

'Europe's cheapest' FRIACO rate

Apart from that being a lie, can't forget about the line rental charge now hitting 150% of the European average.

Stonemason

They giveth with one hand and taketh with the other

Apart from that being a lie, can't forget about the line rental charge now hitting 150% of the European average

Still pretty good news

sceptre

Originally posted by Stonemason
Still pretty good news

Oh it is (my post must look pretty negative). A step forward and all that.

jmcc

First thing you do is to check the source of the story. The story appeared in the Irish Independent. Guess who owns the Irish Indpendent - the Gombeen Man himself. I don't think I've seen a story that has been critical of Eircom in the Indo since the Valentia mob got Eircom.

Regards...jmcc

yellum

Originally posted by jmcc
- the Gombeen Man himself.

Albert ?

Dangger

Sir Anthony O'Relly.

spongebob

Tony O'Reilly(Bart)