An agreement between 3 and Vodafone to share their Irish networks is expected to save the two mobile phone operators €500m.

The High Court will hold a hearing today to determine whether to approve a survival plan for Eircom.

A survival plan for Eircom is expected to be approved at creditors’ meetings today.

Plans to finalise a survival scheme for Eircom are being challenged in the Commercial Court this afternoon.

An unprecedented application to come before the Commercial Court today has cast doubt about plans by Eircom’s examiner to finalise a survival scheme with creditors on Friday for companies employing 5,800 people.

The future of Eircom is set to be finalised next week, with creditors owed €3.75bn set to vote on debt restructuring proposals which are set to hand control of the company to its senior lenders rather than a trade buyer.

The owner of 3 Ireland, Hutchinson Whampoa are believed to be preparing a revised €2bn bid for Eircom.

BROADBAND services have been successfully delivered to 1,028 previously unserved rural areas as part of the Government’s National Broadband Scheme.

A lucrative new sponsorship deal between the mobile phone company 3 Ireland and the Waterford County GAA Board was officially signed off yesterday and will embrace all of the Déise teams in both hurling and football over the next two seasons.

APPROXIMATELY two thirds of businesses have adopted a mentality of switching providers for services, due to the economic downturn, according to a survey.

MOBILE communications network provider, 3 Ireland has increased its customer base here by over 60,000 people since the end of last year and is likely to break even, on a financial footing, by the end of this year.

BT IRELAND says planned job cuts will not directly affect operations here and that any cuts in Ireland will be solely down to natural attrition. BT Group said yesterday that it will continue to look at lowering costs, with 15,000 job cuts expected to be implemented this year.

The Oireachtas will introduce legislation to stamp out mobile phone bullying if operators in the market don’t find a solution, it was claimed today.

The mobile phone firm 3 Ireland is challenging its competitors to bring an end to controversial roaming charges.

The blocking of mobile phones in cinemas and theatres would be inappropriate and impractical, it was claimed today.

More competition in the Irish mobile phone market is good news for Irish consumers, Communications Minister Noel Dempsey said today.

WORRIED parents of young children using mobile phones will welcome the new code of practice aimed at improving the safety of Irish youngsters.

Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey today launched the Irish Cellular Industry Association (ICIA) code of practice for the regulation of new forms of content and services on mobile phones.

MOBILE network 3 has become the first operator to abolish roaming charges for Britain for all its customers.

THE High Court has continued an interim injunction granted earlier this week to Smart Mobile Ltd restraining the Communications Regulator from awarding the 3G licence to any other company.

TWO mobile phone companies have point-blank refused a Government request to stop using a telephone mast near schools in Dublin.

Ireland's newest 3G network, today announced the appointment of Robert Finnegan as managing director for 3 Ireland.

Three-quarters of mobile phone users do not believe the Irish mobile phone market is competitive enough, an opinion poll today claims.

Video mobile network, 3, has announced the appointment of Stephen Pilkington as commercial director of its operation in the Republic of Ireland.

Incoming “third generation” mobile operator 3 Ireland has signed a national roaming agreement with Vodafone Ireland.

GAA fans may soon be watching championship highlights on their mobile phones with the onset of 3G technology in Ireland next year.