Tag: Annual

Imagine freezes broadband prices until 2030

Imagine – Ireland’s independent broadband provider – has announced a price freeze until 2030 on all fibre broadband plans, guaranteeing customers that their monthly bill won’t change between now and then.

The move directly challenges the industry trend of short-term deals followed by steep increases and annual inflation-linked price hikes. Imagine provides fibre and 5G mobile broadband throughout Ireland and promises one clear price until 2030 that can save households and businesses up to €1,247 over five years compared to competitors*.

Imagine is also offering leave anytime flexibility across all broadband packages, giving stability without being tied into 12 or 24-month contracts.

Recent national research by Ipsos B&A (2025) highlights widespread frustration among broadband users in Ireland:

  • 79% are tired of constant price hikes.
  • 71% say cost is their top reason for switching.
  • 54% believe all broadband providers are the same.
  • Nearly half have been with their provider less than two years.

Niall Tallon, Chief Executive Officer, Imagine, said: “We want to reimagine what broadband can be in Ireland and give customers a real alternative that is fair, honest, and free from the usual tricks. Nobody wants to deal with annual inflationary price hikes or switching when short-term offers expire. People want price stability and simple, no-nonsense high-speed connectivity”.

“Imagine has a long history of doing things differently. We were the first to bring high-speed broadband to rural communities when others didn’t. We’re still that independent company challenging the status quo. Our five-year price freeze, straightforward customer journey, and leave-anytime flexibility aren’t available anywhere else”, added Tallon.

“Why sign a contract for one price and end up paying double within a year? It doesn’t make sense. We are rewarding loyalty and are the only broadband provider that can look you in the eye and say: your fibre broadband bill won’t change until 2030.”

Imagine’s new fibre broadband packages include plans for €55 a month for 500MB, with speeds going up to 2GB, and they are available nationwide. All packages include leave-anytime flexibility, meaning no 12-month or 24-month contracts or hidden fees.

For more information, go to imagine.ie

CCPC publishes its 2024 annual report

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has today published its 2024 Annual Report, detailing the investigations, enforcement actions and public awareness campaigns carried out last year. 2024 also marked a significant milestone as the CCPC celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of work promoting competition and enhancing consumer welfare.

Key highlights from 2024:

•    Blocked daa’s purchase of the former QuickPark car park site at Dublin Airport to prevent a monopoly in that market

•    Cleared 71% of merger determinations within 13.3 days, under a simplified process, despite merger notifications increasing by 21%

•    Opened five new investigations for suspected breaches of competition law

•    Carried out dawn raids on two premises as part of an ongoing cartel-related investigation in the home alarm industry, and assisted the Italian competition authority with an unannounced search of Ryanair’s headquarters in Dublin as part of an ongoing Italian competition investigation

•    Recalled, withdrew or prevented 178,596 unsafe products reaching the Irish market

•    Launched proceedings against several nationwide retailers for breaches of new sales pricing laws

•    Undertook 205 consumer protection inspections

•    Responded to over 44,000 helpline contacts and received 1.8 million visits to ccpc.ie

Among its highlights include the CCPC’s successful intervention to prevent a potential monopoly in car parking at Dublin Airport, blocking the daa’s attempted purchase of the former Quickpark site. The deal was stopped due to findings that it would lead to higher prices, less choice and lower service quality for consumers, and facilitated the entry of a new competitor to the car park market at Dublin Airport. Recent analysis conducted by the Commission shows evidence of consumers benefiting from increased competition for car park business at the airport.

Over 178,000 unsafe products removed or prevented from reaching the Irish market

Following consumer complaints, referrals from European networks, proactive investigations and work with Revenue Customs, the CCPC recalled, removed or prevented almost 180,000 unsafe and non-compliant products from reaching the Irish market. Recalls included almost 10,000 babies’ sleepsuits and over 2,400 toy construction trucks, in addition to compliance inspections across hundreds of products.

Enforcement and legal actions

Work to protect Irish consumers from breaches of consumer protection law continued at pace with more than 200 inspections undertaken, 47 fixed penalty notices and 23 compliance notices issued. Successful prosecutions were brought against five retailers, with Tesco Ireland pleading guilty to two sample counts of failing to comply with the law in how they displayed the price of products offered on promotion to Clubcard holders.

Dawn raids

The CCPC carried out dawn raids on two premises as part of an ongoing cartel-related investigation in the home alarm industry. It also assisted the Italian Competition Authority, the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), in an unannounced search of Ryanair’s headquarters in Dublin as part of an ongoing Italian competition law investigation.

CCPC Chairperson Brian McHugh commented:

“2024 marked a major milestone for the CCPC — ten years of championing consumer rights and fostering competitive markets in Ireland. Open, fair markets are the backbone of our economy’s success, ensuring that whether consumers are making small everyday purchases or major financial decisions, their interests are protected.

“Our Annual Report highlights the vital role the CCPC plays across all sectors of the economy, from enforcing consumer law on retail pricing, to advocating proactively for reforming the legal sector to better serve the interests of Irish businesses and consumers. As we look ahead, it is clear that the CCPC’s work is more important than ever and our vision for open and competitive markets where consumers are protected and businesses actively compete, remains at the heart of everything we do.

“Following a year of notable achievements and a decade of progress, our focus remains on delivering transparent outcomes, empowering consumers with knowledge of their rights, and being a leading voice for competition and consumer welfare across Ireland.”

For more information, read the CCPC’s 2024 Annual Report.

Editor’s Notes

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for enforcing and promoting compliance with competition, consumer protection and product safety law, with new and expanding roles in digital and data regulation. We make markets work better for consumers and empower consumers to make informed choices.

Other CCPC reports for 2024 that may be of interest include:

–    The Contacts Report which breaks down the sectors, issues and traders detailed by consumers who contacted the CCPC for information on their rights in 2024.

–    The Annual Mergers and Acquisitions Report which provides details of the mergers and acquisitions notified to, and reviewed by, the CCPC throughout 2024.

–    The Consumer Protection List which details the CCPC’s consumer protection enforcement activities in 2024.

MEF’s 10th Annual Consumer Trust Survey highlights the rise of the ‘savvy consumer’

The Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) has released its 10th Annual Consumer Trust Survey, which takes the global pulse of the mobile ecosystem – from the point of view of the consumer.

This landmark study, with data from 15 different markets, combined with the analysis of results from the past decade, delves into the evolving perceptions and expectations of consumers, enterprises, and other stakeholders from across the globe. It sheds light on the challenges and triumphs encountered in building and maintaining trust through increasing awareness of how personal data is used, ensuring appropriate control over that personal data, and providing confidence in security safeguards.

This year’s Survey shows that while globally trust continues to decline and concerns about data collection increase, consumers are becoming more aware of how their data is collected and used, with a growing number of users now being classed as ‘savvy consumers’.

The key trends from the Survey over the last ten years are:

 

1) The rise of the “Savvy Consumer”: The reports highlight the emergence of the “savvy consumer,” who is more cautious about data sharing and demands greater control and transparency. This segment is increasingly seeking tools and services that empower them to manage their data.

 

2) Declining Trust: There’s a consistent decline in consumer trust regarding how companies handle their data. This is evident in the decrease in users who are “always happy” to share personal information and the increase in those who feel they have “no choice” but to share data to access services.

 

3) Increased awareness of data collection and use: Consumers are becoming more aware of how their data is collected and used. This is reflected in the growing importance they place on transparency and the desire to know how their data is being utilized.

 

4) Growing concerns about data security: Security remains a top concern, with identity theft and data breaches being major worries. This is driving the increased adoption of protective measures like password managers and antivirus software.

 

5) Importance of user experience and transparency: A poor user experience and lack of transparency are major factors that erode trust. Companies need to prioritize clear, concise privacy policies and user-friendly interfaces to build trust with consumers.

 

6) Impact of regulations: Regulations like GDPR and CCPA have increased awareness of data privacy rights and influenced consumer expectations. However, there’s still a gap between the perceived importance of these rights and their actual implementation.

 

7) Growing adoption of mobile payments: The use of mobile payments is increasing, but concerns about security and overspending remain. Companies need to address these concerns to build trust in mobile payment solutions.

 

8) Rise of Data Abstinence: In recent years, users are increasingly practicing “data abstinence,” choosing to limit data sharing as a way to assert control. This trend poses challenges for businesses that rely on data for personalization and targeted advertising.

MEF’s 10th Annual Consumer Trust Survey is an essential tool for the mobile ecosystem, letting stakeholders know where the issues lie and ensuring they have the data needed to make decisions about the future development of products and services. By understanding consumer concerns, companies operating in the mobile ecosystem can work towards allaying those fears.

“MEF’s 10th Annual Consumer Trust Survey serves as a critical compass, providing invaluable insights into the current state of trust in the mobile industry. With a decade of experience in examining trust dynamics, this study offers a unique longitudinal perspective, tracking trends and identifying emerging concerns. It explores a wide range of factors, including fraud prevention, data privacy, security practices, and the impact of new technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence.” said Gavin Patterson, Director of Data, MEF

Key Insights include:

  • Trust is a critical factor: It influences consumer behaviour, including app downloads, purchases, and engagement with services.

 

  • Transparency and control are paramount: Consumers demand clear information about how their data is used and want the ability to manage their data.

 

  • Security concerns remain high: Companies need to prioritize data security and proactively address consumer concerns to build trust.

 

  • The need for user-friendly solutions: Data protection tools and services need to be easy to use and understand to encourage adoption.

 

  • The importance of education: Educating consumers about data privacy and security is crucial to empower them to make informed decisions and protect themselves.

 

  • Stagnant Trust: The Global Trust Index, a measure of user confidence in personal data sharing, remains weak at 55% and has not improved since last year.

 

  • Awareness of Data use is a mixed blessing: While awareness of how personal data is used is high, it may be driven by negative news and data misuse. Increased awareness alone does not improve trust; greater confidence in control and safeguards is also necessary.

 

  • Positive perceptions have plateaued: Perceptions of ease, convenience, online confidence, and privacy have stagnated or declined, reversing a long-term upward trend.

 

  • Incremental decline in data harm is not enough: Although there has been a slight decrease in reported data harms, it hasn’t translated to improved trust. Most data harms remain more common than in previous years.

 

  • Fewer users are noticing improvements: The proportion of users who perceive improvements in data education, controls, and security has plateaued or declined.

 

  • Protective actions are no longer increasing: For the first time, there is no continued upward trend in protective actions taken by users. There’s also a lack of certainty that these actions significantly improve safety.

MEF’s 10th Annual Consumer Trust Survey was carried out in January and February 2024. On behalf of MEF, On Device Research surveyed 9,750 smartphone users, 650 in each of 15 markets.

“Ten years is a significant milestone, one that provides an opportunity to reflect on progress and future trajectories. With the annual Consumer Trust Survey, MEF has championed the importance of consumer perception of safety and privacy in mobile for a decade,” said Dario Betti, CEO of MEF.

For more information: https://mobileecosystemforum.com/10th-annual-trust-study/