Vexed politicians dismayed with mobile phone coverage

TDs and Senators have spoken of their frustration with mobile phone coverage, with some claiming the Republic’s network is regressing instead of improving.

Members of the Oireachtas committee on communications this morning spoke of increasing numbers of dropped calls and data problems, including having to go outdoors to receive a signal in west Dublin.

Several politicians said travelling to Dublin had made them aware of “holes” in the network with committee chairman John O’Mahony claiming this pattern had worsened in the last year.

Mobile phone operators responded that in some areas coverage occasionally regressed.

But they insisted this was due to attempts to upgrade the system with improvements such as the faster, 4G service.

The operators, members of the Telecoms and Internet Federation told the committee Ireland had unique problems with "a low population density, a diverse population and natural features, hills, valleys and even trees".

Spokesman Torlach Denihan said there were inconsistencies between local authorities and State agencies in granting permissions for masts and access. He particularly cited the National Roads Authority (NRA) which he said had restricted access to sites when motorways were being built. He also said the authority charged so much for access to ducting along roads that it was frequently cheaper for operators to dig their own.

When the network was initially planned, it was designed around existing roads and motorways necessitated a redesign, he added.

The operators said another problem was that Government aid for areas where installing mobile coverage was uneconomic, was held up by the need for approval from the EU.

Mairéad Cullen, representing Vodafone, said customer expectations were constantly rising but the "barriers" were still there. She said while networks were evolving they would require ongoing work and this would lead to some service impairment.

Mr O’Mahony asked if it was the case that ducting installed on motorways by the NRA was unused and the authority was getting no income. “Is there no meeting of minds?” he asked.

Mr Denihan replied that progress was being made under talks hosted by the Department of Communications.