Regulation

ComReg Enforcement I

Commission Requirements The Commission may require the publication of information on quality of service. The Commission may require providers of internet access services and of publicly available interpersonal communications services to publish within a specified period comprehensive, comparable, reliable, user-friendly and up-to-date information for end-users on the quality of their technical services, the quality of their non-technical services, and measures taken to ensure equivalence in […]

ComReg Enforcement II

Commitments & Settlements A commitments procedure – allows the Commission to accept commitments from a person under investigation for a regulatory breach. The commitments concerned may require the person to take or refrain from taking particular actions. The commitments can be renegotiated by the parties. Should the commitments not be complied with, the original investigation can be continued. There is a settlement procedure which allows the […]

ComReg Powers

Communications Regulation Act This Act transposes specific aspects of Directive (EU) 2018/1972 (‘the Directive’), particularly the enforcement, security, alternative dispute resolution, and a limited number of end-user rights provisions. It will also designate the Commission for Communications Regulation (‘ComReg’) as the competent authority for the purpose of enforcing the Directive in the State. The European Union (Electronic Communication Code) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 444 of 2022) […]

Postal Provider Regulation

Postal Liberalisation A 1997 Directive on the application of competition rules to the postal service required the opening of the market to competition. Limited services can be reserved for the universal service provider. The first directive provides for common rules in relation to universal postal service reserved services to the universal service provider, tariff principles and transparency for accounts quality standards, harmonisation of technical standards […]

Telephony Regulation

Telecommunication Liberalisation The EU framework for liberalisation and telecommunications commenced in 1990. The role of the communications regulator is to promote and protect competition in the market. The EU policies envisaged that competition would be the primary driver as state monopolies are rolled back. The universal service concept is intended to service remote areas, notwithstanding that it may not be financially attractive, in order to […]

ComReg

Communications Regulation Background Communications in Ireland have been radically affected by European Union liberalisation rules. Typically communications had been run by State monopolies in the EU. The EU liberalised the markets for electronic communications in 1998. The EU legislation provided for universal service for base telephony and narrowband services. EU deregulation aimed at increasing the role of competition in the telecommunications sector. Formerly post and […]

ComReg & Post

COMREG Regulation COMREG regulates the postal sector. An Post was established as a public company in 1984. Its sole shareholder is the State. A Post may return or refuse postal packets which do not comply with the terms of its scheme or contain objectionable matter. Providers of postal services must obtain an authorisation. EU regulations allow for the provision of a compensation fund where the […]

ComReg Enforcement

Investigatory Powers COMREG has significant investigation powers. It has wide information-gathering powers. It can carry out investigations in relation to matters relating to supply and access to electronic telecommunications and networks. It can compile and disseminate information. It can collect, compile, extract and publish information from undertakings relating to the provision of electronic services. COMREG may gather such information as may be required to provide […]

Regulatory Framework [EU]

Regulatory framework for electronic communications To accompany the opening up of the telecommunications market to competition, the European Union (EU) has adopted a regulatory framework with regard to electronic communications in line with technological progress and market requirements. Framework Directive This ‘framework directive’ seeks primarily to: — strengthen competition in the electronic communications sector; — stimulate investment; — foster freedom of choice for consumers and enable them […]

Frequency Bands [EU]

Frequency bands for electronic communication Directive 87/372/EEC sets out in general terms the frequency bands to be reserved for a public European cellular digital mobile communications service by 1 January 1991 and calls upon EU countries to make the necessary preparations as quickly as possible. EU legislation, through this series of decisions relating to frequency bands used for electronic communications services and networks, as well […]

Broadband [EU]

State aid rules broadband networks These guidelines summarise the principles of the Commission’s policy in applying the State aid rules of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to measures that support the deployment of broadband networks. The purpose of State aid control in the broadband sector is to ensure that public interventions will result in a higher level or a faster rate […]