Eircom: What Is Its Role in the Telecoms Market?

Who Are Eircom?

Eircom Limited, commonly also known simply as Eir, is a popular mobile and broadband company based in the Republic of Ireland. This company can trace its roots back to 1983, when it was founded as Bord Telecom Éireann (meaning Telecommunications of Ireland) when it was the nationalised telecoms operator, before being privatised in 1999 and becoming Eircom Limited.

Eir also owns and operates the telecoms infrastructure in Ireland, so many other broadband companies use the same network as Eir to provide their customers with broadband. Companies like Virgin Media for example use their own separate network from Eir.

How Big Is Eircom in Ireland?

Eircom at one point grew to have around 13,000 members of staff, before shrinking to its current 3,473 employees, spread between their offices, network management, and customer support departments. Despite this staffing contraction, Eircom still maintains its title as the largest telecoms operator in Ireland, while also having the biggest fixed-line telecoms network which is used by many other telecoms companies within the Republic.

Does Eircom Operate in Other Countries?

Beyond Ireland, Eircom also offers its services to the commercial markets of the UK, providing a range of broadband and network packages across various diverse industries through FTTP (Fibre-To-The-Premises), FTTC (Fibre-To-The-Cabinet) and legacy-based services such as ADSL. Broadband aside, Eircom has also branched out into the mobile, SIM card, and TV package markets.

Who Is Eircom Broadband Network Competition?

Though Eircom has the largest and most well-established networks within the Republic of Ireland, that is not to say that they are without competition. Their main competitors are:

• Digiweb
• Imagine
• Pure Telecom
• Sky
• Virgin Media
• Vodafone
• Rural WiFi
• Cellnet

Though this may give the illusion of having a good degree of choice, many of these providers and connection types are still dependent upon regional availability. There is also a great deal of variety in terms of the types of packages that they can offer. While some companies may simply offer broadband-only, others such as Eircom can offer bundled packages of broadband, mobile contracts, TV packages and additional services at a discounted rate.

What Are Eircom Open Eir Networks?

Eircom runs the broadband infrastructure for its telecoms network and its fixed fibre network is the largest in Ireland, connecting over 500 cities, villages and towns by over 13,000 kilometres of cable. Other providers, known as Other Authorised Operators (OAOs), can apply to use the network to provide their customers with broadband.

Eircom operates over several forms of fixed-line networks:

• NGN Core: NGN typically consolidates several networks that were traditionally designed for independent and different services, into one core transport network. This allows for the streamlining of service changes and the implementation of a relatively universal data exchange system.
• NGA Fibre Broadband Network: An advanced fibre-based network that successfully delivers very high speeds to subscribers through optical cables. It supports a variety of digital services and has a significantly higher upload speed than traditional broadband networks. Over 750,000 homes and businesses use this service.
• Open Eir Ethernet: The service available for businesses via Eircom Broadband across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

What Is a Fixed-Line Network for Eircom?

Originally, the landline network was simply a circuit-switched telephone network through which those who had access to telephone lines could connect and make calls. Over time this network has developed along with advancing technologies to facilitate the use of IP (Internet Protocol) services, carrying both data transfers and Voice-over-IP services. A fixed-line network has competition from mobile broadband, SIRO, and satellite broadband.

What Is Eircom Webmail?

Eircom webmail is a dedicated email service available to all Eircom (Eir) customers. This facility allows users to safely receive and send correspondence in the form of emails and documents, much the same as other email providers. This facility was provided free of charge, however, as of early 2020, a €5.99 monthly fee was introduced for the service, with an additional increase in December 2021 bringing the monthly subscription fee to €9.99 per month.

How Do I Use My Eircom Webmail Login?

To access your emails, simply access the Eircom webmail login portal and input both your email address and your password. If you are having difficulty, select the "Trouble logging in?" button and follow these steps:

1. Input your username and select what you wish to reset (email, web space, dial-up access etc.)
2. Select your reset code option (email, text, call)
3. Once you have received your code, input this and set your new password
4. Confirm your change request

For further assistance, see our guide to Eir Webmail or use the contact details below.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eircom