Eircom chairman Dr Tony O'Reilly has defended the company's record at its AGM in Dublin today.
He told shareholders that Eircom was 'at times quite unfairly and deliberately over-criticised'.
Dr O'Reilly said the company could not be criticised for being a monopoly, while it was at the same time 'lumbered' with universal service obligations not borne by companies such as Vodafone and O2.
He also hit out at critics who called for cheaper access to the Eircom network while those of Vodafone and O2 'remain tightly closed'.
Referring to the losses incurred by people who invested in the first flotation in 1999, Dr O'Reilly said this was not an Eircom or an Irish phenomenon, claiming that shareholders in the first flotation outperformed the whole telecoms market.
Dr O'Reilly also defended Eircom's investment in its network, including broadband, saying that this had been above the EU average in every year since privatisation.
He called for the 'over-regulation' of Eircom's retailing activities to be lifted, and rejected claims that Eircom had dragged its heels on opening up the market.
Dr O'Reilly also said Eircom 'must get back into mobile' but needed help from the regulator and the Government.
* Eircom shares closed a cent higher at €1.56 in Dublin this evening.
