Digital Infrastructure

COMREG NEWS

ComReg Chairperson Robert Mourik to lead BEREC in 2025

The Board of Regulators elected ComReg Chairperson Robert Mourik as the Chair of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), which he will serve in 2025. A nomination as chair requires at least four nominations from members, and the nominee must have served as Vice-Chair for at least a year. In addition, two-thirds of the members need to vote in favour of the nominee’s candidacy. Mr Mourik noted how the communications sector is “at an important inflection point and European regulation is adapting to new realities”. He also underlined BEREC’s important role in ensuring and promoting high quality regulation that facilitates connectivity and investment to benefit citizens all over Europe. Mourik will take up the role as BEREC Chairperson in 2025. The full report can be found here.

Complaint Reporting Regulatory Guidance

ComReg published its complaint reporting regulatory guidance for providers on 17 October 2023. Providers of electronic communications services must submit their complaints reports by 9 December 2023, which encompass all complaints made by end-users since 1 June 2023 until 30 November 2023. The guidance sets out ComReg’s views on reporting obligations for relevant providers under section 43(a) of the Communications Regulation Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023. Section 43 of the 2023 Act introduces a new obligation for providers to report to ComReg on complaints and sets out a specified period for providers within which to submit reports to the regulator. Generally, all providers must have a code of practice for complaints handling, for which ComReg has previously issued a decision relating to minimum requirements for such codes of practice. The full guidance can be found here.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Ireland’s Virgin Media and Sky ink ‘landmark’ wholesale deal

Virgin Media Ireland and Sky Ireland have announced the signing of a wholesale network access deal which claims to significantly enhance fixed broadband services available to Sky’s customers across the country. Sky now has a partnership with every full fibre broadband provider in Ireland. Virgin Media’s fixed broadband infrastructure currently passes more than one million premises across Ireland. This partnership will allow Sky to utilise Virgins Medias comprehensive broadband infrastructure. The full article can be found here.