The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

THE IRISH really do talk the talk — especially with our mobiles.

Latest figures show there were more than 5million mobile phones in use in the Republic at the end of last year — for a population of 4.2million.

Mobile phone users also sent more than 7.5billion text messages last year and total revenue for the communications market in 2007 was more than €4.5billion.

A report from the Communications Regulator ComReg said the latest figure for the number of mobile phones in use represented 116 per cent of the population.

The report also showed mobile phone calls accounted for a little more than half of all voice traffic — with the volume of fixed-line calls falling by 4 per cent in 2007.

A total of 2.12billion text messages were sent by Irish mobile phone subscribers during the last quarter of 2007.

The report also showed the total number of broadband subscribers at the end of last year was 886,300 — an 11.7 per cent increase on the third quarter of 2007.

ComReg has estimated that Irish broadband penetration at the end of December 2007 was 20.54 per cent.

The total number of internet subscriptions is now more than 1.2million.

Eircom’s share of the fixed-line market has declined year on year by 2 per cent.

Fixed-call traffic towards the close of 2007 was a little more than 2.33billion minutes — which was a marginal decrease on the third quarter figures and a fall of 4 per cent compared with the previous year.

“A factor which may impact fixed-voice volumes over the telecoms network was the use of voice-over internet services such as those offered by Skype and mobile substitution,” ComReg said.

The network 3 Ireland accounts for 4.4 per cent of the total active mobile subscription base in Ireland.

In last year’s final quarter both Vodafone and O2 showed slight declines in their market share while between them 3 Ireland and Meteor now account for almost 25 per cent of the market.

ComReg report

- 116 per cent — mobile phone penetration.
- More than 5million — mobile phone subscribers.
- €4.56billion — turnover of communications market.
- 886,300 — broadband subscribers.
- 20.54 per cent — broadband penetration.
- 1.2million — internet subscriptions.
- 1.13million — mobile owners switched operators.
- 841,000 — digital TV subscribers.