3 and Vodafone sign roaming agreement in Ireland

December 14, 2004

3 Ireland, the new video mobile network, announced that it has signed a national roaming agreement with Vodafone Ireland.

The agreement will give 3's customers full access to Vodafone Ireland's GSM (or 2G) network, ensuring that 3's customers will have the same level of national coverage as Vodafone Ireland's GSM customers.

Under the terms of the agreement, when 3's customers are outside areas covered by 3's video mobile network they will seamlessly roam onto Vodafone's GSM network, where they will be able to continue to make and receive voice calls, send and receive text and multi-media messages, and access GPRS data services.

The agreement between Vodafone Ireland and 3 incorporates Vodafone's GSM (2G) network only. 3 will have its own 3G network, and as such its customers will not need to have access to Vodafone's 3G network. 3's customers will have no contractual relationship with Vodafone Ireland, and all customer matters, including billing, will be managed by 3.

Mark Rigby, Corporate Affairs Director for 3 UK said: "When this service is implemented next year, it will ensure that 3's customers have the same level of national coverage for voice and data services as Vodafone Ireland's GSM customers. In addition, 3's customers will able to access exciting new 3G services when inside our 3G coverage areas."

Speaking about the announcement, Paul Donovan, CEO, Vodafone Ireland said: "Vodafone offers the best network coverage in Ireland so our proposition is very attractive to 3."

"The commercial agreement between 3 and Vodafone Ireland will deliver even further competition into the Irish marketplace and further stimulate the introduction of innovative services," he added.

The commercial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.