ComReg Receives Interest for Last
Remaining 3G Licence in Ireland

Europe : The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has received a formal expression of interest for the last remaining 3G licence. In 2001/2002 a competition was held for the awarding of 3G licences. The competition invited applications for 4 different licences, one so-called ‘A’ licence and three ‘B’ licences. The outcome was that Hutchison 3G Ireland was awarded the ‘A’ licence and O2 and Vodafone were each awarded a ‘B’ licence. There were no applicants for the remaining ‘B’ licence at that time.

In accordance with the EU Authorisation Directive requirements of openness and transparency, ComReg is inviting further expressions of interest in acquiring the 3 rd ‘B’ licence. Interested parties are requested to submit an expression of interest in writing to ComReg by July 7, 2005. Those who express an interest will then be invited to purchase the tender documentation and submit applications for the licence. In the event that two or more applications are received, ComReg will then conduct a comparative evaluation in accordance with the procedures laid out in the tender documentation as for the original competition which took place in 2001/2002.

ComReg has published an information note on this matter - ComReg05/40 – which is available on the ComReg website and the general details of the licence process are provided in ComReg Document 05/41 which is also available on the ComReg website.