Eircom has launched 4G mobile services in Ireland. It said that users could expect to reach peak speeds of 20-25 Mbps, with speeds of more than 60 Mbps registered in technical trials. 4G is is now available from Meteor and eMobile as part of both bundled and standalone offerings. The service has gone live in Dublin, Carlow and Athlone to 1.2 million customers, almost 30 percent of the population.
Eircom is investing EUR 330 million over five yeas in its 4G network. The service will be extended in the coming weeks to other key urban areas including Cork, Galway and Limerick, covering 43 percent of the population by end-December.
Meteor and eMobile will not charge a price premium for 4G services, with customers offered free, unlimited 4G data until March 2014. Customers can choose from 19 handsets at launch, with 4G MiFi devices, dongles and mobile broadband solutions also available.
For consumers, the Meteor Smart Essential plan costs from EUR 49 per month, including unlimited calls and texts, plus 3 GB monthly data allowance. The Eircom Bundle with eMobile Unlimited Data costs EUR 69 per month for new customers, which includes 4G mobile, eFibre and home phone. Existing Eircom customers can add 4G mobile for as little as EUR 24 per month for the first six months.
For business customers, Eircom business bundles are available from EUR 60 per month (excluding VAT) that include 4G mobile, eFibre broadband and a fixed line. The eMobile Business Unlimited plan costs EUR 30 per month (ex VAT) and includes a free 4G smartphone, unlimited calls and texts and 15GB of data.
