Phones, broadband and TV: landlines
Consumers have a wide variety of companies to choose from for their home telephone line. Eircom is responsible for maintaining the national phone network, but you can switch some or all of your phone services between companies.
For example you can:
- Move your line rental and call costs to one new phone company. This is called "single billing", and means you get just one bill from the new company for all your telephone service requirements
- Use a service offering discounts for some types of call (such as international calls). With "carrier pre-selection" (CPS) you opt in advance for these calls to be carried by a particular operator. Whenever you make this type of call, you get billed separately by this discount service
- "Carrier select"is similar, but you opt for discount on a call-by-call basis by dialling a special five-digit code before the number you want. This code bypasses your normal telephone service provider for that call only, and you are billed by the "carrier select" company for that particular call.
The switching process involves signing a consent form, or confirming your consent over the phone. If you are switching your line, remember that there is no physical work involved - nobody has to call at your house.
If there is a fault on your line, Eircom will still be responsible for fixing it - contact your new phone company and they will take it from there.
Internet telephony
Besides switching between these phone operators, another option is to use the Internet for your phone calls.
This has various names, such as "VoIP" or "internet telephony". One type of set -up uses your computer, a microphone and speakers, and your broadband connection. Another type uses a specialised handset and a broadband or wireless connection.
Learn about phones, broadband and TV
