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Ireland Telecoms Market Report - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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    Report

  • 285 Pages
  • June 2024
  • Region: Ireland
  • Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd
  • ID: 5976774

Ireland's telcos step up with fibre network sharing deals

Ireland's telecom market has benefited from extensive investment in recent years, as well as from a vigorous cooperation between telcos to share infrastructure assets. This has particularly been manifested in the fibre broadband sector, which itself has been stimulated by projects associated with the government's National Broadband Plan. The incumbent telco eir has engaged in several joint ventures, including one with InfraVia by which it expects to pass 1.9 million premises with fibre (able to provide data at up to 10Gb/s) by the end of 2026.

The mobile market continues to be dominated by Vodafone Ireland and 3 Ireland, followed by eir, each of which has a substantial market share. There is room for a small number of MVNOs, the largest two of which are Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile. Collectively, the other players only had a 3.3% share of the market in early 2023.

Later into 2023, the mobile sector will benefit from the multi-spectrum auction, which was delayed to the end of 2022. This increased the available spectrum resources by almost half, and will greatly support the MNOs to increase network capacity as they migrate from LTE to 5G.

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.

Key Developments:

Vodafone Ireland signs fixed wholesale network access agreement with Virgin Media Ireland.

Eir concludes fibre network JV with InfraVia Capital Partners, aiming to cover 84% of premises with FttP by 2026.

Regulator completes multi-spectrum auction, with four telcos winning concessions.

SIRO expands fibre reach in County Cork.

IRIS cable linking Iceland with Galway comes into service.

Regulator removes all SMP obligations and designations.
This product will be updated with the latest data at the time of order. Consequently, dispatch time for this product will be 7-10 business days.

Table of Contents

  • Key statistics
  • Regional Europe Market Comparison
  • Market characteristics
  • Market Leaders
  • Market Challengers
  • Market Emergents
  • TMI versus GDP
  • Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
  • Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
  • Country overview
  • 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 - 2023 (e)
Table 2 - Development of telecom sector retail revenue by service (million) - 2012 - 2022
Table 3 - Percentage change in retail revenue by fixed, mobile and broadcasting sectors - 2010 - 2022
Table 4 - Development of retail and wholesale revenue by sector (million) - 2010 - 2022
Table 5 - Change in the share of market revenue by fixed, mobile and broadcasting - 2009 - 2022
Table 6 - Change in the number of unbundled loops and access lines - 2011 - 2022
Table 7 - Change in the number of wholesale DSL bitstream access lines - 2009 - 2022
Table 8 - Increase in the number of fixed-line number portings - 2011 - 2022
Table 9 - Change in the number of indirect access lines: CPS and WLR - 2011 - 2022
Table 10 - Change in mobile roaming voice traffic - 2016 - 2022
Table 11 - Change in mobile roaming data traffic - 2017 - 2022
Table 12 - Change in the number of mobile numbers ported - 2011 - 2022
Table 13 - Decline in mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2022
Table 14 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (incl. M2M) and penetration - 2011 - 2022
Table 15 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (excl. mobile broadband, M2M) - 2012 - 2027
Table 16 - Development of mobile retail market revenue, voice, and data (million) - 2011 - 2022
Table 17 - Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator - 2011 - 2022
Table 18 - Change in the market share of mobile connections by operator (incl. M2M) - 2011 - 2022
Table 19 - Operator share of subscribers (excl. M2M and broadband) - 2014 - 2022
Table 20 - Decline in the proportion of prepaid mobile subscriptions - 2011 - 2022
Table 21 - Change in the proportion of prepaid subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2022
Table 22 - Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology (thousand) - 2016 - 2022
Table 23 - Change in the share of mobile subscribers by technology - 2013 - 2022
Table 24 - Increase in mobile voice traffic - 2011 - 2022
Table 25 - Growth in mobile data traffic - 2014 - 2022
Table 26 - Change in the share of mobile data traffic by technology - 2014 - 2022
Table 27 - Increase in mobile data traffic by technology by technology (TB) - 2017 - 2022
Table 28 - Increase in data use per subscriber (GB per month per subscriber) - 2011 - 2022
Table 29 - Decline in the number of SMS messages sent - 2011 - 2022
Table 30 - Decline in the number of SMS and MMS messages sent per subscriber - 2011 - 2022
Table 31 - Development of SMS and MMS revenue - 2012 - 2022
Table 32 - Decline in the number of MMS messages sent - 2011 - 2022
Table 33 - Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2022
Table 34 - Change in the market share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2022
Table 35 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
Table 36 - Increase in the number of M2M connections - 2013 - 2022
Table 37 - Market share of M2M connections by operator - 2016 - 2022
Table 38 - Change in the number of Vodafone Ireland's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2023
Table 39 - Development of Vodafone Ireland's mobile service revenue - 2016 - 2023
Table 40 - Change in the number of eir's mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2023
Table 41 - Development of eir's mobile services revenue (old style) - 2012 - 2020
Table 42 - Development of eir's mobile services revenue - 2021 - 2023
Table 43 - Change in eir's mobile prepaid and contract ARPU (month/month) - 2013 - 2023
Table 44 - Change in eir's mobile blended ARPU - 2021 - 2022
Table 45 - 3 Ireland registered subscribers - 2011 - 2022
Table 46 - Growth in the number of 3 Ireland's active subscribers (thousand) - 2013 - 2022
Table 47 - Development of 3 Ireland's financial data (million) - 2011 - 2022
Table 48 - Development of 3 Ireland's revenue by sector (million) - 2013 - 2022
Table 49 - Decline in 3 Ireland's annualised ARPU (active subscribers, month)) - 2013 - 2022
Table 50 - Growth in the number of Virgin Media's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2023
Table 51 - Increase in average fixed-line broadband traffic by platform (GB / subscriber /month) - 2015 - 2022
Table 52 - Increase in fixed-line broadband traffic by platform (million GB) - 2017 - 2022
Table 53 - Development of fixed broadband penetration by technology - 2011 - 2022
Table 54 - Change in fixed broadband penetration of households by technology - 2013 - 2022
Table 55 - Growth in the total number of fixed and mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2022
Table 56 - Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
Table 57 - Growth in retail broadband revenue - 2012 - 2022
Table 58 - Development in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type - 2011 - 2022
Table 59 - Change in the market share of broadband subscriptions by platform - 2011 - 2022
Table 60 - Change in the market share of fixed broadband subscriptions by operator - 2010 - 2022
Table 61 - Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate - 2014 - 2021
Table 62 - Change in the share of residential broadband connections by data rate - 2012 - 2020
Table 63 - Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate - 2022
Table 64 - Change in the overall market share of broadband connections by data rate - 2013 - 2021
Table 65 - Change in the number of Virgin Media's Ireland subscribers by sector - 2011 - 2023
Table 66 - Growth in Virgin Media Ireland's revenue - 2013 - 2020
Table 67 - Change in the number of active cable broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2022
Table 68 - Change in the provision of DSL accesses by type - 2011 - 2020
Table 69 - Change in the number of eir's retail and wholesale broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2023
Table 70 - Decline in the number of DSL subscribers - 2011 - 2022
Table 71 - Increase in the number of VDSL connections - 2013 - 2022
Table 72 - Change in the proportion of VDSL connections by access type - 2014 - 2020
Table 73 - Increase in the number of FttP connections - 2016 - 2022
Table 74 - Change in the market share of fibre broadband connections by operator - 2019 - 2022
Table 75 - Increase in the reach of eir's fibre network (thousand premises) - 2018 - 2023
Table 76 - Increase in the proportion of premises passed by eir's fibre network - 2018 - 2023
Table 77 - Growth in the number of eir's fibre broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2023
Table 78 - Growth in the number of eir's fibre broadband subscribers by type - 2021 - 2023
Table 79 - Increase in the number of Vodafone Ireland's fixed broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2023
Table 80 - Change in the number of fixed wireless broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2022
Table 81 - Growth in the number of hotspots and access points - 2011 - 2019
Table 82 - Change in the number of satellite broadband connections - 2016 - 2022
Table 83 - Development of fixed-line and mobile voice traffic in (million minutes) - 2011 - 2022
Table 84 - Change in the fixed-line share of retail revenue by major operator - 2012 - 2022
Table 85 - Development of eir's financial data (million) - 2009 - 2023
Table 86 - Development of eir's revenue by sector (million) - 2012 - 2023
Table 87 - Change in the number of eir's subscribers by sector - 2010 - 2023
Table 88 - Change in the number of fixed voice subscriptions and penetration - 2012 - 2027
Table 89 - Decline in the number of PSTN/ISDN connections - 2011 - 2022
Table 90 - Change in the market share of fixed voice lines by operator - 2012 - 2022
Table 91 - Increase in the number of VoBB lines - 2010 - 2022
Table 92 - Development of Ireland's international internet bandwidth - 2011 - 2017
Table 93 - Historic - Market revenue share of fixed, mobile, and broadcasting subscribers - 2002 - 2010
Table 94 - Historic - Unbundled loops and access lines - 2005 - 2010
Table 95 - Historic - Mobile numbers ported - 2005 - 2010
Table 96 - Historic - Mobile ARPU - 2005 - 2010
Table 97 - Historic - Mobile retail market revenue, voice, and data (million) - 2005 - 2010
Table 98 - Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1995; 1997; 1999 - 2010
Table 99 - Historic - Prepaid versus postpaid share of subscribers - 2000 - 2010
Table 100 - Historic - Development of mobile voice traffic - 2005 - 2010
Table 101 - Historic - SMS messages sent - 2000 - 2010
Table 102 - Historic - MMS messages sent - 2005 - 2010
Table 103 - Historic - O2 mobile financial data (million) - 2007 - 2014
Table 104 - Historic - O2 mobile data statistics - 2007 - 2013
Table 105 - Historic - O2 ARPU, blended, prepaid and contract - 2006 - 2013
Table 106 - Historic - O2 subscribers (thousand) - 2006 - 2014
Table 107 - Historic - eir Mobile's mobile subscribers - 2006 - 2010
Table 108 - Historic - eir Mobile's mobile services revenue - 2006 - 2010
Table 109 - Historic - eir Mobile's annualised blended mobile ARPU - 2006 - 2014
Table 110 - Historic - Dial-up internet subscribers - 2005 - 2015
Table 111 - Historic - Internet users - 2005 - 2016
Table 112 - Historic - Total fixed and mobile broadband subscribers - 2005 - 2010
Table 113 - Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration - 2002 - 2010
Table 114 - Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type - 2002 - 2010
Table 115 - Historic - Virgin Media's Ireland subscribers by sector - 2006 - 2010
Table 116 - Historic - Cable broadband subscribers - 2002 - 2010
Table 117 - Historic - DSL access provision by type - 2002 - 2010
Table 118 - Historic - DSL subscribers - 2002 - 2010
Table 119 - Historic - eir financial data (million) - 2001 - 2007
Table 120 - Historic - Smart Telecom financial data (thousand) - 2003 - 2005
Table 121 - Historic - Fixed voice subscriptions in service and teledensity - 1995; 1997; 1999 - 2010
Table 122 - Historic - International internet bandwidth - 2000 - 2010
Table 123 - Historic - Change in the number of indirect access lines: CPS and WLR - 2006 - 2010
Table 124 - Historic - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (excl. mobile broadband, M2M) - 2009 - 2010
Table 125 - Historic - Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator - 2006 - 2010
Table 126 - Historic - Change in the market share of mobile connections by operator (incl. M2M) - 2006 - 2010
Table 127 - Historic - Change in the proportion of prepaid subscribers by operator - 2008 - 2010
Table 128 - Historic - Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2007 - 2010
Table 129 - Historic - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2009 - 2010
Table 130 - Historic - Fall in the number of Vodafone Ireland's mobile subscribers - 2006 - 2010
Table 131 - Historic - Development of Vodafone Ireland's mobile service revenue - 2010 - 2016
Table 132 - Historic - 3 Ireland registered subscribers - 2006 - 2010
Table 133 - Historic - Development of 3 Ireland's financial data (million) - 2007 - 2010
Table 134 - Historic - Change in the market share of broadband subscriptions by platform - 2007 - 2010
Table 135 - Historic - Change in the number of fixed wireless broadband subscribers - 2005 - 2010
Table 136 - Historic - Growth in the number of hotspots and access points - 2007 - 2010
Table 137 - 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
Chart 2 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers
Chart 3 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents
Chart 4 - Europe - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 - Europe - Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 - Scandinavia/Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 - Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 - Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 - Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 - Development of telecom sector retail revenue by service - 2012 - 2022
Chart 11 - Development of telecom sector retail revenue by service - 2010 - 2022
Chart 12 - Change in the share of market revenue by fixed, mobile and broadcasting - 2009 - 2022
Chart 13 - Change in the number of unbundled loops and access lines - 2011 - 2022
Chart 14 - Change in the number of wholesale DSL bitstream access lines - 2009 - 2022
Chart 15 - Increase in the number of fixed-line number portings - 2011 - 2022
Chart 16 - Change in the number of indirect access lines: CPS and WLR - 2011 - 2022
Chart 17 - Change in the number of mobile numbers ported - 2011 - 2022
Chart 18 - Decline in mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2022
Chart 19 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (incl. M2M) and penetration - 2011 - 2022
Chart 20 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers (excl. mobile broadband, M2M) - 2012 - 2027
Chart 21 - Development of mobile retail market revenue, voice, and data - 2011 - 2022
Chart 22 - Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator - 2011 - 2022
Chart 23 - Change in the market share of mobile connections by operator (incl. M2M) - 2011 - 2022
Chart 24 - Operator share of subscribers (excl. M2M and broadband) - 2014 - 2022
Chart 25 - Decline in the proportion of prepaid mobile subscriptions - 2011 - 2022
Chart 26 - Change in the proportion of prepaid subscribers by operator - 2011 - 2022
Chart 27 - Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology - 2016 - 2022
Chart 28 - Change in the share of mobile subscribers by technology - 2013 - 2022
Chart 29 - Increase in mobile voice traffic - 2011 - 2022
Chart 30 - Change in the share of mobile data traffic by technology - 2014 - 2022
Chart 31 - Increase in mobile data traffic by technology by technology (GB) - 2017 - 2022
Chart 32 - Increase in data use per subscriber - 2011 - 2022
Chart 33 - Decline in the number of SMS messages sent - 2011 - 2022
Chart 34 - Development of SMS and MMS revenue - 2012 - 2022
Chart 35 - Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2022
Chart 36 - Change in the market share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2022
Chart 37 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
Chart 38 - Increase in the number of M2M connections - 2013 - 2022
Chart 39 - Market share of M2M connections by operator - 2016 - 2022
Chart 40 - Change in the number of Vodafone Ireland's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2023
Chart 41 - Development of Vodafone Ireland's mobile service revenue - 2016 - 2023
Chart 42 - Change in the number of eir's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2023
Chart 43 - Development of eir's mobile services revenue (old style) - 2012 - 2020
Chart 44 - Change in eir's mobile prepaid and contract ARPU - 2013 - 2023
Chart 45 - Growth in the number of 3 Ireland's active subscribers - 2013 - 2022
Chart 46 - Development of 3 Ireland's financial data - 2011 - 2022
Chart 47 - Development of 3 Ireland's revenue by sector - 2013 - 2022
Chart 48 - Decline in 3 Ireland's annualised ARPU (active subscribers) - 2013 - 2022
Chart 49 - Growth in the number of Virgin Media's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2023
Chart 50 - Increase in average fixed-line broadband traffic by platform - 2015 - 2022
Chart 51 - Increase in fixed-line broadband traffic by platform - 2017 - 2022
Chart 52 - Change in fixed broadband penetration of households by technology - 2013 - 2022
Chart 53 - Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
Chart 54 - Growth in retail broadband revenue - 2012 - 2022
Chart 55 - Development in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type - 2011 - 2022
Chart 56 - Change in the market share of broadband subscriptions by platform - 2011 - 2022
Chart 57 - Change in the market share of fixed broadband subscriptions by operator - 2010 - 2022
Chart 58 - Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate - 2014 - 2021
Chart 59 - Change in the share of residential broadband connections by data rate - 2012 - 2020
Chart 60 - Change in the market share of broadband connections by data rate - 2013 - 2022
Chart 61 - Change in the number of Virgin Media's Ireland subscribers by sector - 2011 - 2023
Chart 62 - Change in the provision of DSL accesses by type - 2011 - 2020
Chart 63 - Change in the number of eir's retail and wholesale broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2023
Chart 64 - Change in the proportion of VDSL connections by access type - 2014 - 2020
Chart 65 - Increase in the reach of eir's fibre network (thousand premises) - 2018 - 2023
Chart 66 - Growth in the number of eir's fibre broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2023
Chart 67 - Increase in the number of Vodafone Ireland's fixed broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2023
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 - 2022
Chart 70 - Change in the fixed-line share of retail revenue by major operator - 2012 - 2022
Chart 71 - Development of eir's financial data - 2009 - 2023
Chart 72 - Development of eir's revenue by sector - 2012 - 2023
Chart 73 - Change in the number of eir's subscribers by sector - 2010 - 2023
Chart 74 - Change in the number of fixed voice subscriptions and penetration - 2012 - 2027
Chart 75 - Change in the market share of fixed voice lines by operator - 2012 - 2022
Chart 76 - Increase in the number of VoBB lines - 2010 - 2022
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 - Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Europe
Exhibit 2 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 - Europe - Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 - Europe - Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 - Europe - Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 - Access and the local loop
Exhibit 7 - 3G licence results - June 2002
Exhibit 8 - Multiband frequency award process - 2012
Exhibit 9 - Multi spectrum licence results - December 2022
Exhibit 10 - Number of sites licensed for 5G spectrum bands
Exhibit 11 - Maximum Mobile Termination Rate - 2016 - 2024
Exhibit 12 - WDMDS licences: operators, spectrum, and fees - 2005
Exhibit 13 - 3 Ireland's spectrum concessions

Companies Mentioned

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