Smart customers to be switched back on in coming days

Smart Telecom customers are to get their phone service switched back on in the coming days as part of a deal agreed during talks last night.

Eircom cut off outgoing calls for almost 50,000 Smart subscribers on Monday night due to the latter's failure to pay an outstanding bill for use of the former state company's cable network.

Under an interim deal agreed with the Communications Regulator last night, Eircom will allow Smart's customers to make and receive local and national calls for the next few weeks while further negotiations take place.

The agreement will also allow everyone affected by the Smart difficulties to select an alternative telephone provider.