Mobile phone users in the Republic who subscribe to Vodafone continue to spend more on calls and data services than the firm's customers in other European states, key performance figures released yesterday show.

Vodafone's 1.7 million Irish subscribers spent an average €532 on mobile services in the 12 months to September 30th, 2002, an increase of €9 on the 12 months to end June. This is €89 more than the average annual bill in the UK, €187 more than that paid by Italians, and €224 more than the German subscriber. This is just the second time Vodafone has disclosed its average revenue-per-user figures for the Republic. In July, when the firm first disclosed this figure, the Consumers Association of Ireland called on the firm to cut prices in the Republic.

Mr Paul Donovan, chief executive of Vodafone Ireland, said yesterday the high average revenue figures reflected the fact that subscribers here used their phones more for calls and data services than other Europeans. Some 17 per cent of Irish revenues are based on data services such as text messaging. And the young population in the Republic also boosts usage because many people do not use fixed-line phones, according to Mr Donovan. He would not comment on whether Vodafone would cut prices soon.

Vodafone added 1,000 subscribers in the three months to September 30th and now has 1.7 million customers, or about 57 per cent of the Irish market. Some 71 per cent of subscribers use pre-pay mobiles rather than contracts. Annual Irish revenues at Vodafone for the 12 months to September 30th, although not disclosed by the firm, are about €904 million based on the firm's average revenue per user.

Meanwhile, Mr Peter Bamford, chief executive for the Europe, Middle, East and Africa region, has taken over as chairman of Vodafone Ireland.