OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings says in its Irish Telecoms Dashboard that the telecoms market in Ireland exhibits many of the trends seen in far larger European markets, with incumbent-led investment and consumption habits, both advanced.

Proximity to the UK and some cultural similarities lead to a competitive and crowded market, with competition to incumbent eir coming from large and well-funded multinational communications groups including Vodafone, Liberty Global's Virgin Media and pay-TV operator, Sky.

Competition in both fixed and mobile is therefore high, and eir's network transformation and commercial regeneration have been crucial in the consistent improvement of the incumbent's business.

The report covers other key trends in the sector including how retail fixed broadband market share gains continue to benefit market challengers, while mobile market conditions remain competitive despite the four- to- three player market consolidation that is now two years old.