Telecommunications regulator Comreg is to conduct a review of the market for retail fixed calls that continues to be dominated by Eircom with 76 per cent of the market.
Comreg is obliged to carry out the review under the new EU telecommunications framework. It will consider whether the fixed-calls markets needs retail regulation.
It is seeking input as to whether, given the availability of wholesale products to other licensed operators, it is sufficiently easy to enter and remain in the market.
Comreg has examined Eircom's market share, and although it has not reached a final position, it is seeking views from interested parties on whether there is effective competition for retail calls.
"Comreg has identified that some potential restrictions of competition may still exist but where such strategies constitute an abuse of dominance, Comreg seeks views as to whether competition law provides the appropriate instruments to effectively address such market failures," the regulatory authority said in a statement.
Interested parties who wish to make a submission should do so before October 31st.