This Weeks 3G News By Photos

Europe Ireland : Ireland's newest mobile network, announced the appointment of Philip Robinson ( inset ) as national corporate affairs manager for 3 Ireland. In this position, Robinson is responsible for 3's external and corporate affairs interests within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Specifically, Robinson will oversee the educational and issues liasion with communities, local government and other interested parties as 3 continues to build out its 3G network. Following the outsourcing of the network rollout to Ericsson in the UK and to BT Ireland in The Republic of Ireland, Robinson will provide a key linkage between 3 Ireland, 3UK and the outsourced companies to implement and manage an Irish corporate affairs brief in support of 3's overall objectives. 3 currently has more than 72 percent population coverage for its 3G services and 99.5 percent population coverage for talk and text in the Republic of Ireland.

Robinson joined 3UK in 2001 as the regional community affairs manager for Northern Ireland. He began advising 3 Ireland on corporate and community issues when 3 was awarded its Irish 3G licence in 2002, and worked closely with the network rollout teams in BT Ireland. Prior to joining 3, Robinson served as press secrectary to Rt. Hon. David Trimble, MLA and the Ulster Unionist Assembly Group at Stormont from 1999-2001.

Robert Finnegan, managing director of 3 Ireland, commented: "We're delighted to announce Philip's appointment as national corporate affairs manager. He will continue to be instrumental in the smooth and speedy rollout of our 3G network in Ireland, which enables us to deliver some of the most compelling video content available, directly to our customers' video mobiles."

Based in Dublin, Robinson (27) was educated at Methodist College Belfast and at the University of Leicester.