Hutchison Whampoa is offering to help a smaller rival become Ireland’s fourth mobile operator in a bid to win EU approval for its acquisition of Telefonica’s O2 Ireland unit, according to sources.

Hutchison Whampoa has offered to give network access to several virtual network operators in a bid to win EU approval to buy Telefonica’s Irish unit, according to sources.

PRE-PAID phones bought off the shelf anonymously will no longer be available when new 3G (third-generation) handsets are introduced early next year.