When using the mobile calculator the following assumptions are made about your mobile usage while calculating cost results:
When a user specifies the number of minutes and texts used per month, domestic calls and texts to mobile numbers are distributed amongst network providers according to the market share of each provider in Ireland based on ComReg’s Irish Communications Market Quarterly Key Data Report. The distribution of networks called will affect the pricing of mobile packages that include different on-net and off-net rates and allowances.
The network distribution is as follows:
| Market Share | |
|---|---|
| Vodafone | 35.2% |
| Three Group | 29.6% |
| Eir Group Mobile | 21.8% |
| Tesco Mobile | 7.7% |
| Virgin Mobile | 2.4% |
| Other Operators (OAOs) | 3.3% |
The network distribution assumptions can be changed by users of the system using the “Manual Entry” method of cost calculations, and should be used by users who know that their most frequently contacted contacts are on certain mobile networks.
When the ComReg Compare engine is used by uploading a pdf for a mobile bill or through uploading information using the companion Android application, the distribution of networks calls and texts are accurately determined using external systems to cover 80% of the user’s calls and texts.
This system is accurate to determine the network for numbers using the larger mobile network operators (MNOs) in Ireland, but may not be accurate for all smaller and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). After bill or Android data upload, users can review their results to ensure accuracy and edit the assumptions if necessary.
Calls and texts to numbers outside of the top 80% are distributed according to the network market share percentages.
Users of the ComReg Compare system designate a total number of minutes used when calculating their spend. Because some telecommunications packages include a connection fee per call, the calculator splits the total minutes into a number of individual calls. Average call duration is set at 3.5 minutes as determined from a survey of users calls taken during development of the system.
As an example, 100 minutes of use input into the system would result in 28 individual calls of 3.5 minutes each, with one shorter call to make up the full 100 minutes.
Voicemail calls are treated similarly. While typically included in mobile packages, voicemail calls are calculated with an average duration of 3.5 minutes by the ComReg Compare system.
The ComReg Compare system takes all connection costs, minimum call durations, and cost-per-minute vs cost-per-second billing paradigms into account when calculating the results for end users.
To allow for differences in weekend and peak/off-peak rates, calls and texts are distributed amongst different times of the week. By default, 75% of calls are deemed to be weekday calls, and 50% of the weekday calls are deemed to be during peak hours, i.e. 37.5% of calls are peak calls.
For example, 100 minutes would, by default, be separated into 25 minutes of weekend calls, 37.5 minutes of peak calls, and 37.5 minutes of off-peak calls.
The weekend and peak percentage rates can be changed by users using the manual entry and advanced settings of the calculator.
For the ComReg Compare system, default peak hours are the hours between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday, and the weekend hours span from 18:00 on Friday to 23:59 on Sunday. These times are used to create calls and texts for a user before working out costs for each plan. Note that actual peak and weekend definitions may be different for individual mobile packages, and as such, costs will vary slightly between them.
Weekend and peak rates are not differentiated for international calls, calls to 1850/1890 numbers, premium rate call and data usage.
For the mobile calculator, calls are distributed between mobile and landline numbers, by default at a rate of 70% mobile and 30% landline. For the landline calculator, users must specify the number of minutes to landline and mobile numbers separately.
This distribution can also be changed using the manual-entry advanced settings.
International call usage can be entered by users of the system using the “Manual Entry” method of cost calculations, and should be used by users who know that their most frequently contacted international destinations. The international call destinations displayed for usage entry are: UK, US, Poland, Australia, France, Germany, Spain.
The calculated cost for a top-up, pre-pay or Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) mobile plan is dependent on both the order in which a user uses their services after a top-up, and also on the specific top-up pattern of that user. For the ComReg Compare engine, the following top-up pattern is used:
Roaming calls, texts and data are not included when extracting usage information from an Android phone or an uploaded bill.
The ComReg Compare system does not perform any cost calculations based on usage for broadband and television packages. The input from users is used to remove packages that are not suitable for display to users. For example, if a user selects a requirements for broadband with a speed greater than 50 Mbps, no packages with a speed less than 50 Mbps will be displayed on the results screen.
The ComReg Compare system will calculate costs for combinations of mobile and home phone plans with potential add-ons included. The system will only display plans with add-ons if the add-on purchased is beneficial to the user, based on their individual usage pattern. Final results will always be displayed in order of ascending costs, so the more economically advantageous results for users will be presented first. Users can filter out add-on packages using the options on the results page.
For bundles that contain television packages, any number of different add-ons (of different types e.g. 1 x premium sports, 1 x premium movies) will be included.