Eircom

From Wikicompany

eircom plc (formerly Telecom Éireann), is the former State telecommunications operator of Ireland.

The company currently operates the fixed-line telephone network, act as an Internet service provider (ISP) eircom.net, and operate a property alarm installation and montioring unit called eircom Phonewatch.

An analogue TACS and a digital GSM 900 network operation in Ireland, started as eircell, was once owned by eircom. That network is now run by Vodafone.

Competition

eircom now has a 44% market share of the Irish telecommunication sector.

eircom continues to have a dominant market position in some telecommunications areas. The company's main competitors are Esat BT, and the cable companies NTL and Chorus.

eircom is required to allow carrier pre-selection (CPS) for others in the fixed line telephony market. CPS, introduced in 2001, allows subscribers to use an alternative provider for all their calls, without the need to dial indirect access codes or numbers, although they still receive a bill for eircom for line rental. However, under a wholesale line rental scheme, it will now be possible for customers, especially business ones, to have a single bill from an alternative provider, rather than continuing to receive one from eircom.

History

eircom was founded in 1984 when it became a semi-state company.

In July 1999, the company was listed on the Irish, London and New York stock exchanges.

In May 2001, eircom sold its mobile phone business eircell to Vodafone.

In November 2001 eircom was purchased by Valentia Telecommunications Ltd and subsequently delisted from the Stock Exchange in December 2001.

eircom returned to the Dublin and London Stock Exchanges on 19 March 2004.