The new chairperson of the body which represents new telecoms operators in Ireland says operational and regulatory hurdles still make it difficult for companies to do business.
Iarla Flynn of ALTO - which represents companies such as Esat, Chorus and Meteor - says full competition is still a long way off and is now affecting Ireland's ability to attract overseas investment.
While applauding may of the actions taken by the telecoms regulator, Mr Flynn says the local loop should have been unbundled last January, yet the ODTR set a price only in the last week.
In particular, he says Irish consumers are being denied unmetered Internet access, and urges the ODTR to require Eircom to provide unmetered interconnection to other operators.
Mr Flynn, who succeeds Eddie Brennan, also wants the Government to talk to local authorities and telecoms operators to draw up guidelines for rolling out networks.
