Updated at 5.25pm

EIRCOM IS RINGING in price hikes for residential and business customers across its phone, internet and TV services.

The changes, which will be shown on bills from mid-April onwards, include increases on both monthly fees and call charges.

Monthly rates for those on double-, triple- and quad-play bundles – which include a combination of phone, broadband, mobile and TV services – will rise anywhere up to €8 per month.

Charges on its eFibre broadband plans will rise by as much as €5 a month – nearly 10% higher than the current rate for its unlimited package – for customers who signed up before August last year.

Eircom said the average monthly increase for all residential customers would be “less than €5″ while business clients could expect average price hikes below €9.

A full breakdown of the price changes can be viewed on the company’s website.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny helps launch Eircom's eFibre network Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

First big rise in four years

Eircom consumer managing director Jon Florsheim said it was the first time in four years that the company had announced price changes which affected most of its customers.

“We are doing more than any other operator in the market to invest in infrastructure, to provide new and innovative services and to offer real value to our customers,” he said.

Eircom has build the biggest fibre broadband network in Ireland but has already been struggling to get customers signed up to its plans.

Many more of its clients remain on older, DSL-based systems while it also boasts the largest share of fixed-line phone customers in Ireland.

Sky announced last month it was joining the high-speed broadband market with prices below its chief rivals.

Bitter pill for struggling businesses

Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) chief executive Mark Fielding said the price rises were excessive and opportunistic with high utility costs already threatening business competitiveness.

He said average price increases for business customers were “completely unjustified” given Ireland’s current inflation rate of 0.1%.

There is a danger that this could lead to a domino effect of utility price increases across the board,” he said.

“This development is a further blow to business owners who are still paying exorbitant energy costs despite the massive drop in oil prices.”

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