ComReg - "77% of mobile subscribers are bill pay"

[ClubMan]

ComReg issues Electronic Communications Sector Quarterly Report for Q3 2025 | Commission for Communications Regulation

www.comreg.ie

I was surprised by this. I don't know anybody that still uses bill pay. I would imagine that most of these people could save significantly on a SIM only prepay deal and their own handset.

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[CharlieMac]

I agree it's madness but it's not that surprising. We've become a consumerist society where people pay for convenience even if it costs extra. Enticed by fashionable new phones available on "free" upgrades that we don't need.

 

[JoeRoberts]

There is an awful lot of company / work phones out there. These would all be bill pay.

 

[ClubMan]

There is an awful lot of company / work phones out there. These would all be bill pay.

Hardly the bulk of the 77% though?

 

[Savvy]

I think those Spam SMS messages are keeping the numbers up! Do many people send SMS anymore? I had to check my own usage and it was one text in the last 4 months.

 

[ClubMan]

Enticed by fashionable new phones available on "free" upgrades that we don't need.

Like the Vodafone offer of a "free" iPhone for just €65 p.m. on a 24 month contract - minimum spend = €1,560...
https://www.vodafone.ie/mobile/apple-iphone-17-pro?mobiletype=bill-pay

 

[ClubMan]

I think those Spam SMS messages are keeping the numbers up! Do many people send SMS anymore? I had to check my own usage and it was one text in the last 4 months.

I don't understand. Are you saying that the spammers use bill pay phones or something?

 

[Savvy]

I don't understand. Are you saying that the spammers use bill pay phones or something?

It was in relation to the 33 texts sent a month

 

[jpd]

Spammers don't use mobile phones to send SMS messages

 

[Dr Strangelove]

I have GoMo at €13 a month payment automatically by card.

Is this bill pay or prepay?

 

[Duddaa]

was surprised by this. I don't know anybody that still uses bill pay.

If I'm on GoMo's legacy 30 day contract of €9.99 a month for the last 5-6 years and buy my phone outright, that makes me a Bill Pay customer.

 

[Duddaa]

I have GoMo at €13 a month payment automatically by card.

Is this bill pay or prepay?

I was just posting the same thing. All these rolling 30 day sim only contracts are Bill Pay Customers. To me, "Pre-Pay" is where you've a sim card and pre load it with money. If anything I'm surprised we still have 23% "pre-pay".

 

[ClubMan]

that makes me a Bill Pay customer.

How so? I thought that GoMo, like similar MVNOs, were strictly prepay only?

 

[Persia]

Been on 48 for a long time, pay €10.99 a month, wife and 2 kids on it as well at €12.99 per user.
I buy a new Samsung every 4 or 4 years. Could not imagine paying €65 pm for a bill pay regardless of the phone.
Imagine its the aimed at people who never shop around for anything.

 

[Duddaa]

How so? I thought that GoMo, like similar MVNOs, were strictly prepay only?

Because I get a bill and I pay at the end of the month via direct debit (or you can have a card linked to your account) for what I've used. eg this month I made an international call not included in the package so paid above the regular monthly price. That's a bill paying customer, not a pre-pay customer.

 

[Duddaa]

Been on 48 for a long time, pay €10.99 a month, wife and 2 kids on it as well at €12.99 per user.
I buy a new Samsung every 4 or 4 years. Could not imagine paying €65 pm for a bill pay regardless of the phone.
Imagine its the aimed at people who never shop around for anything.

I think you're a classified as a bill paying customer on a rolling 30 day contract. You, your wife and kids pay at the end of the month for what you've used, not the beginning so aren't pre-paying technically

Now you're on a good bill pay contract without a phone included. Not a bill pay package with a phone included..

 

[ClubMan]

Ok, I assumed that all of the fixed price SIM only deals, especially from MVNOs/virtual operators, were prepay when, it seems, at least some of them are technically bill pay. I mistakenly equated bill pay with expensive/overpriced fixed term (12/24 month) contracts.