Ireland - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

In recent years Ireland's telecom market has rebounded from a long period in which fiscal constraints inhibited investment in the sector. Significant infrastructure projects are underway, including the NBN which aims to deliver a fibre-based service of at least 150Mb/s nationally by the end of 2022. The renewed optimism has been seen in operator investment in extending fibre-based networks providing 1Gb/s services. The incumbent telco eir is investing €1 billion in infrastructure, part of which is earmarked for its Ireland's Fibre Network which will deliver a 1Gb/s service to 85% of premises.

The mobile market is dominated by Vodafone Ireland and 3 Ireland, followed by eir. There is room for a small number of MVNOs, the largest of which is Tesco Mobile, though stiff competition and the deployment of low-cost sub-brands by the MNOs has made the MVNO model a difficult proposition and a few players have been forced to exit the market.

The mobile sector is preparing for a multi-spectrum auction later in 2021 which will greatly increase the amount of spectrum available, and so provide a boost for 5G services. The MNOs are rapidly expanding the reach of 5G, with eir alone covering about 57% of the population by March 2021.

This report provides statistics and analysis on the key sectors of the Irish telecom market, presenting an overview of the regulatory environment, the fixed network operators and services, and telecom infrastructure. In addition, the report covers the fixed and wireless broadband markets, together with developments in related technologies such as FttP, powerline broadband, wireless and mobile broadband, Wi-Fi and internet via satellite. Statistics and analyses on the mobile voice and data markets are reviewed, including the recent regulatory issues, a snapshot of the consumer market, and an assessment of emerging technologies and operator strategies. The report also includes a range of subscriber forecasts.

BuddeComm notes that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the telecoms market. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, has offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect has been a reduced (and sometimes negative) subscriber growth, which will continue into 2021.

Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

National Broadband Ireland makes progress with the national broadband network;

Starlink begins trials of its satellite broadband service;

eir expands 5G services to 57% of the population;

Regulator rules that eir make fibre networks available to altnets; preps for multi-spectrum auction by late 2021;

Vodafone launches a commercial NB-IoT service, extend 5G services to more cities;

More operators become retail customers of SIRO's 'Gigabit Hub Initiative';

Report update includes the regulator's market data to Q4 2020, telcos' operating and financial data to Q1 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Vodafone Ireland, O2, eir, eMobile; Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media Ireland, Casey CableVision, Digiweb, BT Ireland, Smart Telecom, Tele2.

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Historical overview
Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments
- Telecom sector liberalisation
- Privatisation
- Interconnect
- Access
- Wholesale bitstream
- Leased lines
- Fibre access
- Number Portability (NP)
- Carrier PreSelection (CPS)
- European Electronic Communications Code
Mobile network developments
- Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions
- Roaming
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
- Wideband Digital Mobile Data Services (WDMDS)
- Network sharing

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
- General statistics
Mobile infrastructure
- Analogue networks
- Digital networks
- Mobile voice
- Mobile data
- Mobile broadband
- Machine-to-Machine (M2M) networks
- Internet of Things
Major mobile operators
- Vodafone Ireland
- O2 Ireland (historic)
- eir
- 3 Ireland
- MVNOs
Mobile content and applications

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
- Market analysis
- National Broadband Plan (NBP)
- Government networks
- Regional infrastructure
- Broadband statistics
Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
- Alternative operators
- VDSL
- Vectoring DSL
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
- eir
- SIRO
- Sky Ireland
- Other developments
Broadband Powerline (BPL)
Wireless broadband
- 1.7GHz band
- 10.5GHz band
- 3.5GHz band
- Digiweb
- National Fixed Wireless Point to Multipoint Licences (FWPMA)
- Other developments
- Other bands
- Wi-Fi
- Worldwide Interoperability of Microwave Access (WiMAX)
- Wi-Fibre
- Internet via satellite

Fixed network operators

Introduction
eir
BT Ireland
Smart Telecom
Other operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure
- Submarine cable networks
- Satellite networks

Appendix - Historic data

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Ireland - 2021 (e)
Table 2 - Development of telecom sector retail revenue by service (€ million) - 2012 - 2020
Table 3 - Percentage change in retail revenue by fixed, mobile and broadcasting sectors - 2010 - 2020
Table 4 - Development of retail and wholesale revenue by sector (€ million) - 2010 - 2020
Table 5 - Change in the share of market revenue by fixed, mobile and broadcasting - 2009 - 2020
Table 6 - Change in the number of unbundled loops and access lines - 2011 - 2020
Table 7 - Change in the number of wholesale DSL bitstream access lines - 2009 - 2020
Table 8 - Increase in the number of fixed-line number portings - 2011 - 2020
Table 9 - Change in the number of indirect access lines: CPS and WLR - 2011 - 2020
Table 10 - Change in mobile roaming voice traffic - 2016 - 2020
Table 11 - Change in mobile roaming data traffic - 2017 - 2020
Table 12 - Change in the number of mobile numbers ported - 2011 - 2020
Table 13 - Decline in mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2020
Table 14 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (incl. M2M) and penetration - 2011 - 2020
Table 15 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (excl. mobile broadband, M2M) - 2011 - 2026
Table 16 - Development of mobile retail market revenue, voice and data (€ million) - 2011 - 2020
Table 17 - Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator - 2011 - 2020
Table 18 - Change in the market share of mobile connections by operator (incl. M2M) - 2011 - 2020
Table 19 - Operator share of subscribers (excl. M2M and broadband) - 2014 - 2020
Table 20 - Decline in the proportion of prepaid mobile subscriptions - 2011 - 2020
Table 21 - Change in the proportion of prepaid subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2020
Table 22 - Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology (thousand) - 2016 - 2020
Table 23 - Change in the share of mobile subscribers by technology - 2013 - 2020
Table 24 - Increase in mobile voice traffic - 2011 - 2020
Table 25 - Growth in mobile data traffic - 2014 - 2020
Table 26 - Mobile data traffic share by technology - 2014 - 2020
Table 27 - Increase in data use per subscriber - 2011 - 2020
Table 28 - Decline in the number of SMS messages sent - 2011 - 2020
Table 29 - Decline in the number of SMS and MMS messages sent per subscriber - 2011 - 2020
Table 30 - Decline in SMS and MMS revenue - 2012 - 2020
Table 31 - Decline in the number of MMS messages sent - 2011 - 2020
Table 32 - Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 33 - Change in the market share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2020
Table 34 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 35 - Increase in the number of M2M connections - 2013 - 2020
Table 36 - Market share of M2M connections by operator - 2016 - 2020
Table 37 - Change in the number of Vodafone Ireland's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 38 - Development of Vodafone Ireland's mobile service revenue - 2016 - 2021
Table 39 - Change in the number of eir's mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2021
Table 40 - Development of eir's mobile services revenue - 2012 - 2021
Table 41 - Change in eir's mobile prepaid and contract ARPU - 2013 - 2021
Table 42 - 3 Ireland registered subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 43 - Growth in the number of 3 Ireland's active subscribers (thousand) - 2013 - 2020
Table 44 - Development of 3 Ireland's financial data (€ million) - 2011 - 2020
Table 45 - Development of 3 Ireland's revenue by sector (€ million) - 2013 - 2020
Table 46 - Decline in 3 Ireland's annualised ARPU (active subscribers) - 2013 - 2020
Table 47 - Growth in the number of Virgin Media's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2021
Table 48 - Increase in average fixed-line broadband traffic by platform - 2015 - 2020
Table 49 - Increase in fixed-line broadband traffic by platform - 2017 - 2020
Table 50 - Development of fixed broadband penetration by technology - 2011 - 2020
Table 51 - Change in fixed broadband penetration of households by technology - 2013 - 2020
Table 52 - Growth in the total number of fixed and mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 53 - Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 54 - Growth in retail broadband revenue - 2012 - 2020
Table 55 - Development in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type - 2011 - 2020
Table 56 - Change in the market share of broadband subscriptions by platform - 2011 - 2020
Table 57 - Change in the market share of fixed broadband subscriptions by operator - 2010 - 2020
Table 58 - Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate - 2014 - 2020
Table 59 - Change in the share of residential broadband connections by data rate - 2012 - 2020
Table 60 - Change in the overall market share of broadband connections by data rate - 2013 - 2020
Table 61 - Development of Virgin Media's Ireland subscribers by sector - 2011 - 2021
Table 62 - Growth in Virgin Media Ireland's revenue - 2013 - 2020
Table 63 - Change in the number of active cable broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 64 - Change in the provision of DSL accesses by type - 2011 - 2020
Table 65 - Change in the number of eir's retail and wholesale broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Table 66 - Decline in the number of DSL subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 67 - Increase in the number of VDSL connections - 2013 - 2020
Table 68 - Change in the proportion of VDSL connections by access type - 2014 - 2020
Table 69 - Increase in the number of FttP connections - 2016 - 2020
Table 70 - Change in the market share of fibre broadband connections by operator - 2019 - 2020
Table 71 - Growth in the number of eir's fibre broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Table 72 - Increase in the number of Vodafone Ireland's fixed broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Table 73 - Change in the number of fixed wireless broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 74 - Growth in the number of hotspots and access points - 2011 - 2019
Table 75 - Change in the number of satellite broadband connections - 2016 - 2020
Table 76 - Development of fixed-line and mobile voice traffic in (million minutes) - 2011 - 2020
Table 77 - Change in the fixed-line share of retail revenue by major operator - 2012 - 2020
Table 78 - Development of eir's financial data (€ million) - 2009 - 2021
Table 79 - Development of eir's revenue by sector (€ million) - 2012 - 2021
Table 80 - Change in the number of eir's subscribers by sector - 2010 - 2021
Table 81 - Change in the number of fixed voice subscriptions and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 82 - Decline in the number of PSTN/ISDN connections - 2011 - 2020
Table 83 - Change in the market share of fixed voice lines by operator - 2012 - 2020
Table 84 - Increase in the number of VoBB lines - 2010 - 2020
Table 85 - Development of Ireland's international internet bandwidth - 2011 - 2017
Table 86 - Historic - Market revenue share of fixed, mobile and broadcasting subscribers - 2002 - 2010
Table 87 - Historic - Unbundled loops and access lines - 2005 - 2010
Table 88 - Historic - Mobile numbers ported - 2005 - 2010
Table 89 - Historic - Mobile ARPU - 2005 - 2010
Table 90 - Historic - Mobile retail market revenue, voice and data (€ million) - 2005 - 2010
Table 91 - Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1995; 1997; 1999 - 2010
Table 92 - Historic - Prepaid versus postpaid share of subscribers - 2000 - 2010
Table 93 - Historic - Development of mobile voice traffic - 2005 - 2010
Table 94 - Historic - SMS messages sent - 2000 - 2010
Table 95 - Historic - MMS messages sent - 2005 - 2010
Table 96 - Historic - O2 mobile financial data (€ million) - 2007 - 2014
Table 97 - Historic - O2 mobile data statistics - 2007 - 2013
Table 98 - Historic - O2 ARPU, blended, prepaid and contract - 2006 - 2013
Table 99 - Historic - O2 subscribers (thousand) - 2006 - 2014
Table 100 - Historic - eir Mobile's mobile subscribers - 2006 - 2010
Table 101 - Historic - eir Mobile's mobile services revenue - 2006 - 2010
Table 102 - Historic - eir Mobile's annualised blended mobile ARPU - 2006 - 2014
Table 103 - Historic - Dial-up internet subscribers - 2005 - 2015
Table 104 - Historic - Internet users - 2005 - 2016
Table 105 - Historic - Total fixed and mobile broadband subscribers - 2005 - 2010
Table 106 - Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration - 2002 - 2010
Table 107 - Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type - 2002 - 2010
Table 108 - Historic - Virgin Media's Ireland subscribers by sector - 2006 - 2010
Table 109 - Historic - Cable broadband subscribers - 2002 - 2010
Table 110 - Historic - DSL access provision by type - 2002 - 2010
Table 111 - Historic - DSL subscribers - 2002 - 2010
Table 112 - Historic - eir financial data (€ million) - 2001 - 2007
Table 113 - Historic - Smart Telecom financial data (€ thousand) - 2003 - 2005
Table 114 - Historic - Fixed voice subscriptions in service and teledensity - 1995; 1997; 1999 - 2010
Table 115 - Historic - International internet bandwidth - 2000 - 2010
Table 116 - Historic - Change in the number of indirect access lines: CPS and WLR - 2006 - 2010
Table 117 - Historic - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (excl. mobile broadband, M2M) - 2009 - 2010
Table 118 - Historic - Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator - 2006 - 2010
Table 119 - Historic - Change in the market share of mobile connections by operator (incl. M2M) - 2006 - 2010
Table 120 - Historic - Change in the proportion of prepaid subscribers by operator - 2008 - 2010
Table 121 - Historic - Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2007 - 2010
Table 122 - Historic - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2009 - 2010
Table 123 - Historic - Fall in the number of Vodafone Ireland's mobile subscribers - 2006 - 2010
Table 124 - Historic - Development of Vodafone Ireland's mobile service revenue - 2010 - 2016
Table 125 - Historic - 3 Ireland registered subscribers - 2006 - 2010
Table 126 - Historic - Development of 3 Ireland's financial data (€ million) - 2007 - 2010
Table 127 - Historic - Change in the market share of broadband subscriptions by platform - 2007 - 2010
Table 128 - Historic - Change in the number of fixed wireless broadband subscribers - 2005 - 2010
Table 129 - Historic - Growth in the number of hotspots and access points - 2007 - 2010
Table 130 - Historic - Development of fixed-line and mobile voice traffic in (million minutes) - 2008 - 2010

List of Charts

Chart 1 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Leaders (top tier)
Chart 2 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers (middle tier)
Chart 3 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents (bottom tier)
Chart 4 - Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 5 - Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 - Scandinavia and Baltics - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 - Northern Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 - Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 - Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 - Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 11 - Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 12 - Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 13 - Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 14 - Development of telecom sector retail revenue by service - 2012 - 2020
Chart 15 - Development of telecom sector retail revenue by service - 2010 - 2020
Chart 16 - Change in the share of market revenue by fixed, mobile and broadcasting - 2009 - 2020
Chart 17 - Change in the number of unbundled loops and access lines - 2011 - 2020
Chart 18 - Change in the number of wholesale DSL bitstream access lines - 2009 - 2020
Chart 19 - Increase in the number of fixed-line number portings - 2011 - 2020
Chart 20 - Change in the number of indirect access lines: CPS and WLR - 2011 - 2020
Chart 21 - Change in the number of mobile numbers ported - 2011 - 2020
Chart 22 - Decline in mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2020
Chart 23 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (incl. M2M) and penetration - 2011 - 2020
Chart 24 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (excl. mobile broadband, M2M) - 2011 - 2026
Chart 25 - Development of mobile retail market revenue, voice and data - 2011 - 2020
Chart 26 - Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator - 2011 - 2020
Chart 27 - Change in the market share of mobile connections by operator (incl. M2M) - 2011 - 2020
Chart 28 - Operator share of subscribers (excl. M2M and broadband) - 2014 - 2020
Chart 29 - Decline in the proportion of prepaid mobile subscriptions - 2011 - 2020
Chart 30 - Change in the proportion of prepaid subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2020
Chart 31 - Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology - 2016 - 2020
Chart 32 - Change in the share of mobile subscribers by technology - 2013 - 2020
Chart 33 - Increase in mobile voice traffic - 2011 - 2020
Chart 34 - Increase in data use per subscriber - 2011 - 2020
Chart 35 - Decline in the number of SMS messages sent - 2011 - 2020
Chart 36 - Decline in SMS and MMS revenue - 2012 - 2020
Chart 37 - Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 38 - Change in the market share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2020
Chart 39 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 40 - Increase in the number of M2M connections - 2013 - 2020
Chart 41 - Market share of M2M connections by operator - 2016 - 2020
Chart 42 - Change in the number of Vodafone Ireland's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 43 - Development of Vodafone Ireland's mobile service revenue - 2016 - 2021
Chart 44 - Change in the number of eir's mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2021
Chart 45 - Development of eir's mobile services revenue - 2012 - 2021
Chart 46 - Change in eir's mobile prepaid and contract ARPU - 2013 - 2021
Chart 47 - Growth in the number of 3 Ireland's active subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Chart 48 - Development of 3 Ireland's financial data - 2011 - 2020
Chart 49 - Development of 3 Ireland's revenue by sector - 2013 - 2020
Chart 50 - Decline in 3 Ireland's annualised ARPU (active subscribers) - 2013 - 2020
Chart 51 - Growth in the number of Virgin Media's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2021
Chart 52 - Increase in average fixed-line broadband traffic by platform - 2015 - 2020
Chart 53 - Increase in fixed-line broadband traffic by platform - 2017 - 2020
Chart 54 - Change in fixed broadband penetration of households by technology - 2013 - 2020
Chart 55 - Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 56 - Growth in retail broadband revenue - 2012 - 2020
Chart 57 - Development in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type - 2011 - 2020
Chart 58 - Change in the market share of broadband subscriptions by platform - 2011 - 2020
Chart 59 - Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate - 2014 - 2019
Chart 60 - Change in the share of residential broadband connections by data rate - 2012 - 2020
Chart 61 - Change in the market share of broadband connections by data rate - 2013 - 2020
Chart 62 - Development of Virgin Media's Ireland subscribers by sector - 2011 - 2021
Chart 63 - Change in the provision of DSL accesses by type - 2011 - 2020
Chart 64 - Change in the number of eir's retail and wholesale broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Chart 65 - Change in the proportion of VDSL connections by access type - 2014 - 2020
Chart 66 - Growth in the number of eir's fibre broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Chart 67 - Increase in the number of Vodafone Ireland's fixed broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Chart 68 - Growth in the number of hotspots and access points - 2011 - 2019
Chart 69 - Development of fixed-line and mobile voice traffic in minutes - 2011 - 2020
Chart 70 - Change in the fixed-line share of retail revenue by major operator - 2012 - 2020
Chart 71 - Development of eir's financial data - 2009 - 2021
Chart 72 - Development of eir's revenue by sector - 2012 - 2021
Chart 73 - Change in the number of eir's subscribers by sector - 2010 - 2021
Chart 74 - Change in the number of fixed voice subscriptions and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 75 - Change in the market share of fixed voice lines by operator - 2012 - 2020
Chart 76 - Increase in the number of VoBB lines - 2010 - 2020

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 - Access and the local loop
Exhibit 3 - 3G licence results - June 2002
Exhibit 4 - Multiband frequency award process - 2012
Exhibit 5 - Maximum Mobile Termination Rate - 2016 - 2024
Exhibit 6 - WDMDS licences: operators, spectrum and fees - 2005
Exhibit 7 - 3 Ireland spectrum concessions

Ireland - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Description

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Ireland's regulator preps for multi-spectrum 5G auction by end-2021

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Table of Contents

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix - Historic data

Related reports

List of Tables

List of Charts

List of Exhibits