The number of mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland now exceeds three million, according to a report from the telecoms regulatory body, the Commission for Communications Regulation.
The final report on the telecoms sector in Ireland for 2002 shows revenues rising four per cent to €3.5 billion, with one in ten customers from Eircom moving to other fixed line operators.
"After a tough year, it is good for the market and for users to see some encouraging signs, and I believe that we can build on these in 200," the Commission Chairperson, Ms Etain Doyle said.
An increasingly competitive environment is underlined by the fact that one in four SMEs has switched their fixed line supplier in the last 12 months, accordingly to the survey.
DSL roll-out has proceeded quickly, but take up is limited with a further 700 lines since September 2002, making the total 1,900 lines, of which some 10 per cent are non-incumbent lines.
25 per cent of SMEs indicated that they are likely to upgrade from ISDN to DSL.
There has been an improvement in the delivery of leased lines by eircom to other operators. There is now a 20 to 25 day wait as opposed to a 36-43 day wait in October 2001, which in turn was a substantial improvement on 2000.