ComReg announce four mobile firms to buy 4G licence

Four mobile phone companies are to pay the State more than €850m to provide next generation mobile services.

The money was raised through a recent multi-band spectrum auction held by the Commission for Communications Regulation.

Vodafone has bought the most capacity followed by Meteor Mobile, Telefonica Ireland, which runs O2, and Hutchison-owned 3 Ireland.

Three had won a strong portfolio of spectrum at the lowest portfolio price of €51.14m, with CEO Robert Finnegan saying: “We are delighted with the outcome of the auction – it gives us the best of both worlds, a strong portfolio at the best price."