Good phone reception is crucial for making and receiving calls and texts, as well as accessing data. Here’s how to work out which network can offer you the best coverage.
There are three main Irish network operators:
All the other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) run services using one of the three main networks:
Mobile operator | Network | |
---|---|---|
An Post | Vodafone | |
Clear Mobile | Vodafone | |
GoMo | eir | |
Lycamobile | Three | |
Tesco Mobile | Three | |
Virgin Mobile | Three | |
48 | Three |
You’re likely to get the same coverage from these MVNOs as the network they’re run off. So, it’s worth shopping around to find a deal that works best for you and your location.
ComReg (The Commission for Communications Regulation) has created an outdoor mobile coverage map that makes it easy to check coverage and signal levels of all the networks at your Eircode.
Results aren’t guaranteed and it’s based on outdoor coverage which may be different from inside your home or office.
You can also check 2G (calls and texts), 3G (calls, texts and data), 4G (calls and data) coverage. This is useful if you use your phone as much for data as for calls.
Check what the coverage is like where you live or work, wherever you use your phone the most.
Vodafone, Three and Eir, offer up to 99% 4G population coverage in Ireland, but this still leaves some people struggling for a good mobile connection.
There are lots of factors that affect mobile coverage, some of these include:
If you’re looking to pick up the pace, 5G offers speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G but it’s not yet widely available in Ireland.
To find out if it’s been rolled out in your area, you can use this coverage map to check all three networks, or go to each directly:
You can find out more about the benefits of 5G and whether it’s right for you in our guide: What’s so good about 5G mobile?
Here are a few things to help you get started:
Don’t forget about the MVNO’s that operate off the three main networks as this will open up more deals to choose from.
Compare SIM-only mobile plans now
If you find that the coverage is poor when you switch provider, you should be protected by a 14 day cooling off period. Always check the full terms before signing up.
Vodafone offers a network satisfaction guarantee so you can cancel within 30 days and get your money back.
There are also plenty of 30 day SIM-only plans that give you the chance to experience a new network’s coverage before committing to a longer term contract.
It only takes a few minutes to find a cheaper deal and start saving.