The Irish mobile mess: paying top prices for patchy service — and we’re all pretending this is normal
I recently switched to Sky Mobile in Ireland thinking “Vodafone network = solid coverage.” I learned the hard way: in rural Roscommon, I got almost no usable signal. No 5G. Barely usable 4G. Just frustration and a phone that became a very expensive brick the moment I left Wi-Fi.
But here’s the twist: I’m now trialling Lyca Mobile Ireland, and the early results are surprisingly positive. Solid coverage where Sky/Vodafone failed, data speeds that actually hold up, and a refreshingly reasonable price for their Unlimited PAYG plan. It’s a reminder that the big, well-known networks aren’t always the ones delivering real value — especially outside the major cities.
If you live anywhere outside Dublin, Galway, Cork, or Limerick, this story probably sounds familiar. We’re paying premium prices for service that often feels second-rate. Why, in 2025, is mobile signal still a lottery in Ireland?
A few facts (because claims matter)
• National regulators and independent checkers still show huge variation in coverage by Eircode — rural areas remain patchy despite the marketing hype. ComReg’s Eircode checker is still the most honest view of what you can expect at your exact home. (https://coveragemap.comreg.ie/map/)
• Even though some operators have publicly highlighted upgrades in towns like Ballaghaderreen, the reality on the ground depends on your precise location. One network can work brilliantly on one road and fail miserably on the next.
• Comparison sites show the inconsistencies clearly: “some 5G availability” doesn’t mean your house, your workplace, or your commute will get it. Indoor coverage especially remains a glaring problem nationwide.
So what’s going wrong?
- Rural investment is still slow. Customer density decides priority, so the cities get upgrades first while smaller towns and rural addresses wait years for improvements.
- Marketing vs reality: “99% population coverage” looks great in an advert, but tells you nothing about whether your home, your street, or your village gets usable service.
- MVNOs add another layer. Sky depends entirely on Vodafone’s masts — which means if Vodafone doesn’t cover your area properly, Sky won’t either. That’s why switching to a different provider only makes sense if they’re on a different core network. Lyca runs on a different underlying network, and that alone has made a massive difference for me.
What you can do (and what the industry should do)
For You:
• Don’t commit to a contract without testing a PAYG SIM at your exact home. A €10 trial can save you a year of misery.
• Check your coverage on ComReg’s map before you switch — it’s the closest thing to the truth you’ll get before you put a SIM into your phone.
• Ask about Wi-Fi calling or approved boosters if you’re stuck with poor indoor signal.
• Don’t be afraid to try smaller network operators like Lyca — as my own test is proving, they can outperform the big names depending on the area.
For operators and regulators:
• Stop relying on population-based stats and start publishing real indoor/outdoor maps based on actual geography.
• Speed up investment in rural areas — connectivity is no longer a luxury.
• Regulators should force clearer pre-contract information so customers know what to expect at their actual address, not just a theoretical “coverage area.”
Final word
Ireland’s mobile networks have improved over the years, but they still lag behind what we pay for and what we’re promised. Too many customers are stuck with patchy signal, dropped calls, and sluggish data — and we accept it because switching feels like guesswork.
But it doesn’t have to be. My early experience with Lyca Mobile shows that alternatives exist, and sometimes they outperform the traditional big-name networks at a fraction of the price.
If you live in rural Ireland or anywhere similar, test before you commit. Try eir, Three, or — based on my trial so far — even Lyca Mobile. Don’t assume the most expensive network is the best one. Demand better, and don’t settle for sub-standard service just because that’s how it has always been.
