Eircom is challenging a proposal by the regulator to enable operators to share the "last mile" of its network at low cost to offer their own broadband internet service.
The firm confirmed yesterday that it was opposed to a new proposal by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and would not rule out a court challenge. Eircom chief executive Dr Philip Nolan said the firm was opposed to the whole philosophy behind the regulator's proposal, which would enable rivals to share an Eircom line at low cost.
He said ComReg wanted to impose new regulations on Eircom in parallel to the existing reseller regime and local loop unbundling regime. He would not rule out either court action or an appeal to a new Electronics Appeals Panel, which oversees ComReg's decisions.
ComReg is proposing reducing the cost of line sharing - where a rival operator uses the "last mile" of Eircom's local network that runs into a home to offer broadband services, but not telephony - by 96 per cent to 0.39 per line.
Last week, The Irish Times revealed that Eircom is preparing to lodge an appeal with the Electronic Appeals Panel over a direction on local loop unbundling. It has previously taken a court injunction against ComReg.
