Smart Telecom yesterday accused Eircom of attempting to prevent customers switching to its new broadband service.

Smart claims that when customers switch from Eircom to its broadband service, the latter should switch the customer's line and number to Smart's network.

Smart said yesterday that Eircom has told it that facilitating both processes at the same time would take a number of weeks to complete, leaving the customer without any service.

Smart said that more than 80 per cent of its new subscribers were getting around the problem by getting new phone numbers.

Eircom said yesterday that the problem is related to an issue which is the subject of a judicial review in the High Court.

Late last year, communications regulator ComReg ordered Eircom to facilitate the transition of services, including lines and numbers, to independent operators. It is seeking a review of that order and wants to appeal it.

However, Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey has yet to convene the ComReg appeals panel. Eircom said the issues could be dealt with quickly if the minister convened the panel.