Tele2 pulls out of Irish market

SWEDISH telecoms operator Tele2 quit the Irish market yesterday when it offloaded its business here to The Carphone Warehouse group just a year after setting up.

The company, which had signed up just 36,000 residential phone customers in Ireland, sold its combined British and Irish operations for €12.6 million. It blamed the decision on unattractive conditions for new entrants in both markets.

“The decision to divest our UK and Ireland operations has not been taken lightly and is a result of thorough analysis of the market and our various options,” said Tele2 chief executive Lars-Johan Jarnheimer.