Up to 40,000 telephone subscribers and their families were left without a basic service last night after Eircom cut off their supplier Smart Telecom from its network over a billing dispute, writes Arthur Beesley, Senior Business Correspondent.
Smart Telecom issued no warning to its customers before Eircom cut off their outgoing calls service at 5pm yesterday because of a debt of some €4 million that Smart has not paid.
Eircom said last night it would continue to facilitate Smart customers for the 999 emergency service and incoming calls until Monday.
Well known as a former sponsor of the weather forecast after RTÉ new bulletins, Smart is among the biggest of the independent phone service suppliers that have been seeking to establish a foothold in the Irish market.
The company's future has been in some doubt since it emerged last month that its biggest shareholder - businessman Brendan Murtagh - was providing up to €3 million per month to keep it afloat.
A spokesman for Smart declined last night to comment on the viability of the company which has made numerous staff redundant in an attempt to cut costs. "We regret any inconvenience caused, and we are working to rectify the situation and come up with a solution."
Customers have been advised to contact the telecoms regulator ComReg. A spokesman for the regulator said newspaper adverts would be placed to advise customers about their options. A telephone number would be provided, and information would be made available on the regulator's website www.comreg.ie
"We regret what has happened insofar as it pertains to the company and how it affects customers.
"We will be making information available to customers so that they can make alternative arrangements, and provision will be made for people not to be left without services for a period."
An Eircom spokesman said: "We regret that we've been forced to terminate most services to Smart because of non-payment of bills.
"In the interest of customer care we are maintaining access to emergency services and incoming calls for a period."