CABLE FIRM'S BROADBAND CHALLENGE - There seems to be cut-throat competition for Eircom from UPC Ireland, which owns cable operators NTL and Chorus.
Cable customers will be able to avail of a new phone rental and broadband package for €24 per month. That beats the the cost of line rental per month by a matter of cent but it is roughly half the €49 Eircom charges for line rental and broadband.
UPC Ireland marketing director Mark Coen said the service would be available to 100,000 cabled homes in Dublin, Waterford and Galway initially, and Cork and Limerick would be added by the end of the year. Mr Coen said he hoped to able to extend its reach even further through partnerships.
Asked about NTL's previous record, which included the suspension of telephone services and broadband, Mr Coen said NTL went 'a bit ahead of themselves', and the company's new owner Liberty Global had a good track record in the voice and data market.
He said UPC was serious about this €1 billion investment and would also 'raise the bar' on customer service.
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DOYLE AND ONE51 START ICG PROCESS - Cork-based shipping company Doyle Group and One51 have begun examining the books of ferries group Irish Continental with a view to making a takeover offer.
A statement from the independent directors of ICG confirmed this morning that the formal process had started after close of business on Friday and would take up to four weeks to complete. Doyle and One51 between them own more than 20% of ICG after buying shares at prices of up to €20.75. Their approach trumped an €18.50 per share offer from a management team led by chief executive Eamonn Rothwell.
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EBS MEMBERS TO VOTE ON BOARD ROW - The big business story today will be what EBS Building Society independent director Eithne Tinney tells members at the society's annual general meeting this afternoon.
It kicks off at the Burlington Hotel at 2pm when members will have the opportunity to voice their concerns about last week's revelations over boardroom ructions at the society.
Ms Tinney is seeking re-election to the board which she joined in 2000. She is due to retire today and the board is not supporting her re-election. She says that's because she's been outspoken in the interests of members. The board claims it is because her performance as a director hasn't been up to scratch.
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CURRENCIES - The euro is worth $1.3560 and 68.2p sterling.
