Three companies apply for fourth 3G licence

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has announced that three companies have applied for the fourth 3G mobile licence by today's deadline.

The licence on offer is a so-called ‘B’ licence to provide 3G mobile services for a period of 20 years.

The companies which have submitted tenders are eircom, Meteor Mobile Communications and Smart Mobile Ltd.

The B licence requires a licensee to provide as a minimum coverage of the five major cities (53%) and somewhat slower minimum roll-out conditions compared with the A licence.

The applications will now be considered by ComReg.

Three licences for provision of 3G services were issued to ‘3’, O2 and Vodafone following an earlier competition in 2002.