Launch of 3 boosts mobile phone competition

COMPETITION in the mobile phone market will be boosted next month with the launch of new operator 3.

The company, which won one of the four licences to operate third generation (3G) advanced video mobile phones, has not divulged the full details of its launch, but it is expected that consumers will be able to sign up to 3 by the end of July. The company is building up its network and will have full coverage by launch date through a roaming agreement with Vodafone.

Under the terms of its licence from telecoms regulator ComReg, it must have 53% of the population by the end of this month. The company’s corporate affairs director Mark Rigby said yesterday that this target has been exceeded.