Eircom ‘most likely’ 3G bidder

PROSPECTS for Eircom’s re-entry to the mobile market hotted up yesterday as the fixed-line phone operator refused to comment on speculation it had bid for an advanced third generation (3G) licence.

Communications regulator Comreg said late on Thursday that it had received a formal expression of interest in the third and final 3G licence and gave other potentially interested parties until July 7 to enter the race.

Bidders for the licence were first invited in 2001 but there were no takers. A competition to allocate three similar licences at the time was won by international mobile giants Hutchison, Vodafone and O2. The move by Hutchison marked its first entry to the Irish market. Its 3G network, under the brand name 3, will be open for business later this summer.