Telecoms regulator Ms Etain Doyle has delayed the publication of statistics measuring the performance of telecoms operators towards their customers.

The Measuring Licensed Operator Performance programme would have enabled customers to compare the repair times, maintenance records and complaints registered against telecoms operators.

Ms Doyle had indicated the measurement data will be published this summer. It was intended this would act as a "name and shame" list and be an incentive for operators to improve customer service.

It is understood the regulator's office was preparing to publish the data today but postponed publication following complaints from Esat that it would be unfair.

Esat complained that it had supplied more data than other companies, which had followed different guidelines.

The director's spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that operators had collected some figures to certain guidelines and there were large gaps in the data.

"To protect the integrity of the whole programme, we have delayed publication until the fourth quarter," she added.

Mr David Taylor, director of regulatory affairs for Esat, said last night publication should be delayed until consumers received accurate and comparable data.