Three companies have applied for the four available Irish 3G mobile phone licences the telecoms regulator said today. The deadline for applications was noon today.
ODTR confirmed the applicants were Hutchison Whampoa, of Hong Kong, and Singapore Technologies Telemedia, MMO2, the mobile spin-off from Britain's BT Group, and Vodafone.
The 20-year 'A' and 'B' licences have differing terms, with 'A' licences - applied for by Hutchison - providing for 80 per cent population coverage and potential extra spectrum, and the 'B's - sought by MMO2 and Vodafone - providing 53 per cent coverage and slower minimum roll-out conditions.
The overall spectrum access fee for the 'A' licence is €27 million, and €74 million for the 'B' licence.
The winners will be announced in June, with services due to be rolled out by January 2004.