New Broadband supports for Mobile Users

Wednesday 15th April 2020: - Minister for Communications, Richard Bruton TD has announced that BT Ireland, Eir, Pure Telecoms, Sky Ireland, Tesco Mobile Ireland, Three Ireland, Virgin Media & Vodafone have agreed with his Dept to increase supports to help people stay in touch.

Telecoms providers have agreed to a number of Covid-19 commitments: - any fixed broadband customers who do not have unlimited usage already as standard will be given the opportunity, if they require, to upgrade their package (which may be on a temporary basis)

Most Importantly for those using Mobile Data:

• Any customer who does not have fixed broadband and who relies solely on mobile access to the internet will have the opportunity to avail of affordable unlimited mobile data access/package from their service provider (so contact your provider for better terms)
• Fair usage policies will not be automatically applied to unlimited fixed and mobile data packages (this means that better terms are within reason & fair to both user and supplier)
  
• Service providers may implement appropriate permitted traffic management measures to avoid network congestion (some restrictions as to when you can access the web may be applied to ensure fair access for everyone if demand is very high)
• Access to healthcare and educational resource websites identified by the Government will be zero-rated for all customers where technically feasible (these sites can be accessed without any measured data usage)
• To ensure customers remain connected in these difficult times, service providers will engage with any customer that contacts them who is in financial difficulty as a result of Covid-19 and has difficulty paying their bills to agree the best way of keeping them connected (If you have difficult paying for data - contact the supplier, they have agreed to look at helping you out)

• Service providers will work with Comreg in the event of complaints raised to Comreg by consumers, who consider they are not being treated in accordance with these commitments (Comreg is the regulator who looks after the interests of the consumer & they will be keeping a close eye on this for your benefit)
  

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