Baffled by Broadband? ComReg helps you find out what your options are
Technology changes quickly, and with so much of our work and personal lives relying on digital tools, it can feel overwhelming to stay informed.
Take broadband, for example. ComReg carried out a Broadband Connectivity Survey in 2023 that found 44% of people work from home at least one day a week- but do you know if you have the right package for your needs?
Well if you don't, ComReg can help! The Commission for Communications Regulation has been providing consumers with reliable guidance on broadband, mobile and landline services since 2002. Pic: Getty Images
ComReg has recently updated its free online tool Compare, that's an easy-to-use resource where you can click on the service you are looking for to discover all the options that are available to you.
The tool searches for mobile, broadband, home phone and bundle plans that are tailored to your needs, that way you know you're getting the very best value for money. Pic: Shutterstock
When comparing broadband plans, you can filter by a number of ways: Technology
Speed
Provider
Contract length
For a new mobile plan, you can choose between bill pay or pre-pay, and filter by technology and plans that include phones.
You can even check which plans do not have annual price increases. Pic: Shutterstock
ComReg doesn't just help you compare packages and bundles, they also provide information on how to switch smoothly if you need to do so.
For example, did you know that if you lose service when switching, the disruption shouldn't last more than one working day?
As well as the Compare tool, ComReg's website also has advice and information about mobile and broadband services along with helpful tools that allow you to check broadband availability and a mobile coverage map.
If you need help, ComReg's Consumer Care team is available to assist you, or your authorised representative, 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday (excluding public holidays).
You can contact ComReg's dedicated Consumer Care team by phone at (01) 8049668, via email to consumerline@comreg.ie or online complaint form or live chat over on the website comreg.ie.
Sending a text with the words COMREG or ASKCOMREG to 51500 will request a call or text back (standard SMS rates apply), while you can send a letter to the Consumer Care Team, ComReg, One Dockland Central, Guild Street, Dublin 1, D01 E4X0.
An Irish Sign Language facility is available on request and you can contact ComReg Consumer Care via text relay. For more information, visit www.itrs.ie.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ireland is 2nd dearest spot in Europe & is getting more expensive – but consumers aren't powerless to hunt for value
ANYONE who has recently stood in a supermarket queue, filled up their tank or received an energy bill will tell you that Ireland is an expensive place. And now, new data from Eurostat confirms it. 4 Ireland is the second most expensive country in the EU Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Ireland has the second-highest alcohol prices in the EU Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Daragh Cassidy insists consumers aren't powerless despite the high costs In fact, we are the second most costly country in the entire Only But while the Danes at least benefit from generous public services, good public transport and clean streets, Here, Daragh Cassidy of comparison site asks why Ireland is so expensive – and considers what can be done to bring prices down. WHAT is quite striking about Eurostat's figures is how far we seem to be drifting from the European average each year. In 2015, our prices were 28 per cent above average, but the gap seems to be widening almost every year. And we're no longer just more expensive than our Mediterranean neighbours. We've leapfrogged traditionally costly countries like Finland, Let's start with the obvious — Ireland has the second highest alcohol prices in the EU — almost 198 per cent the average. Only REASON FOR HIGH COST Much of this is due to high government taxation and the recent introduction of minimum unit pricing. The cost of food and non-alcoholic drink is also relatively high in Ireland. Our However, this is actually an improvement on recent years. In 2020, our prices were over 21 per cent above average, but that's probably not much comfort to households. Dining out and hotel stays are pricey, too, with costs nearly 30 per cent above the EU average. 'HARVEY NORMAN EFFECT' Mobile and broadband services? A jaw-dropping 40 per cent higher. There are a few positives, though! Our clothing costs are slightly below the EU average, and the 'Harvey Norman effect' keeps the cost of household appliances and furnishings somewhat in check. These small wins, though, are dwarfed by the overall trend: Ireland is an expensive place to live. But why? NO EASY ANSWER There is no single answer. And some reasons are complex and structural. But factors which contribute to our high cost of living include a lack of competition in certain sectors and high taxation on goods such as tobacco, alcohol, petrol and Low government subsidies in areas such as public transport and childcare compared to our In addition, businesses are faced with high insurance and energy costs which then get passed on to consumers. MORE IMPROVEMENTS So what can be done? Ireland is unlikely to ever be a cheap country — nor should we aim to be. High prices often go hand in hand with high living standards. It should be noted that most of the countries with the highest standards of living in the world (such as INCOME ISSUE But the problem is that Irish incomes, while high, don't quite match the salaries in these countries. We have Danish prices, but wages closer to Taxpayers in more expensive countries tend to get back more from the government in terms of better and more affordable So what now? The SHOP AROUND Regulators such as ComReg and the CRU need sharper teeth and stronger mandates to tackle anti-competitive practices. And a Minister for Consumer Affairs could help ensure consumer interests are more consistently championed at government level. But consumers aren't powerless. By shopping around and switching providers for everything from electricity and insurance to broadband, households can claw back hundreds of euro a year. Ireland may never be a bargain destination, but that doesn't mean we can't find better value. 4 Grocery prices are the third highest in the EU, at nearly 15 per cent above average Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Extra.ie
When politics hits the checkout: Why more consumers are turning against brands
More and more, social and political division is shaping the world we live in. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2025, polarised societies are now one of the top five long-term risks to global stability. For businesses, this isn't something happening on the sidelines, it's front and centre – and they're most certainly feeling it. There was a time when taking a stand on social issues helped brands stand out. But now, those same messages can spark major public backlash. Pic: Getty Images In today's climate, some consumers are making their opinions known with their wallets. In fact, Ipsos data shows one in four Americans have boycotted a company because of its political stance or reaction to current events. In the US, political pressure is pushing some big companies to pull back from their public commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In the US, political pressure is pushing some big companies to pull back from their public commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Pic: Shutterstock Elsewhere, companies are finding more nuanced ways to stay the course. In Europe and Asia, multinationals are still committed to DEI, but they're adapting their messaging to fit local contexts and avoid political flare-ups. The same balancing act is happening around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). In early 2025, the EU responded to competitiveness concerns by easing sustainability rules, a sign of how economic pressures are now weighing against long-term ESG goals. Security is also back on the agenda. In Europe, 36% now say it's the EU's top priority. Across Asia and Latin America, shifting alliances and social pressures are changing how businesses operate and engage with stakeholders. Pic: Getty This new environment means businesses need to tread carefully, with clear plans for when to speak up, when to stay silent, and how to align their actions with their values and long-term goals. Ibec's Global Compass report, Navigating Polarisation: Business Leadership in a Fragmented World, dives deeper into how businesses can lead through today's ideological divides – not by avoiding difficult issues, but by learning to navigate them with care and strategy.
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Extra.ie
Can I get in trouble for having a 'dodgy box' in my home?
The Data Protection Commission said they are engaging with Sky in a fresh clampdown on 'dodgy boxes'. It comes as the broadcaster issued a 'consequences' warning to thousands of dodgy box users if they are caught streaming content illegally. Pic: Getty Images 'Dodgy boxes' are devices which allow users to watch pay TV channels illegally. Sellers provide customers with codes or links to watch streamed premium content, including sports, movies and more. Typically, the content is downloaded onto an Amazon Fire Stick, which can be plugged into a TV. Sellers have a range of services, ranging in different prices, with some as low as €50 annually. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) are working alongside An Garda Síochána as part of the clampdown on illegal streaming operators. Typically, the content is downloaded onto an Amazon Fire Stick which can be plugged into a TV. Pic: Getty Images Sellers are 'breaking the law, making criminal profits and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data loss and identity theft,' Kieron Sharp, chairman of FACT states. Under the Copyright Act 2000 it is illegal to see or use a 'dodgy box,' with those breaking the law facing a fine of up to €127,000 or a maximum prison sentence of five years. FACT also state that many of the piracy networks are linked to organised crime, with profits gained from selling the service likely used to fund other illegal activities. The illicit streaming of Internet Protocol Television is a copyright offence under Section 140 of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000. Pic: Getty Images The clampdown on 'dodgy boxes' started in 2023 following a rise in the use of the illegal platforms. It came following an EU report that Ireland had the sixth highest use of the gadgets across Europe with 171,000 people using the services. While Gardaí previously focused on the sale of the gadgets, rather than leisurely use, it is still a punishable offence to use a dodgy box at home. A statement from An Garda Síochána told 'The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) Intellectual Property Crime Unit works with industry and service providers to investigate and prevent illicit streaming, this encompasses all content and not exclusively sports content. The illicit streaming of Internet Protocol Television is a copyright offence under Section 140 of the Copyright and related rights Act 2000. Last year, a married father-of-four was jailed for the possession of nearly €1m in criminal proceeds from his illegal streaming business. Ciaran Donovan had been operating King Kong Media which charged customers for codes to access pay TV channels such as Sky and BT Sports. Donovan was sentenced to three years and four months with the final two years suspended for a 30-month period on several conditions — including that he does not engage in any activity involving illegal TV streaming.
