The mobile operator pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court on Thursday to eight charges of breaking Article 15 of the EU roaming regulations.

Comreg has brought proceedings against Eircom Ltd, trading as eir, claiming it is in breach of its obligations, as the dominant provider in the telecommunications market, to allow other operators to purchase access to eir's physical infrastructure including its ducts and cabling.

Virgin's 30-day notice period for switching "effectively charges consumers for switching", the Commission for Communications Regulation claimed

Comreg issued a direction in which other providers can access the Eircom network which, among other things, involves unblocking silt and other material which has built up in the ducts