3 hits ComReg requirement one year early with 85% 3G population coverage

February 21, 2007

3, Ireland's mobile media network, announced that its 3G network now covers 85% of the population, meeting its regulatory coverage requirement set by ComReg one year early. With nationwide coverage for voice and text, 3's network coverage is the best in Ireland.

In addition to 3's superior coverage, 3 has the most advanced network delivering the fastest mobile broadband speeds in the country of up to 3.6 MB per second.

Robert Finnegan 3's Managing Director commented: "This is a great start to 2007 for 3. We hit the regulatory target at the end of 2006 one year early - an incredible achievement. Beating the regulatory requirement by such a margin just shows 3's commitment to rolling out 3G in the Irish market. Some of the old networks have paid lip-service to new technologies, keeping customers on 2G to protect their old revenue streams. 3 is fully committed to offering the best technology available to its customers, at the best value. Why would you buy an old 2G handset if you can have the latest technology, at great value, with nationwide coverage on 3?"

David Hennessy, 3's Head of Network Rollout commented: "Not only are we offering the best network for mobile entertainment and information services, we're also offering consumers and businesses an opportunity to "technology leapfrog" over fixed line with our high-speed mobile broadband. The slow roll-out of fixed line broadband has opened up an immense opportunity for 3, whether you're using a datacard in your laptop on the Luas or using a Motorola V3xx handset, 3 offers Ireland's fastest mobile broadband speeds."

Since early 2004, in partnership with BT, Nokia, NEC and Siemens Mobile, 3 has rolled out and integrated over 600 radio sites, undertaking one of the fastest network rollouts in telecommunications' history.

3's mobile media services range from the 3MusicStore offering over 500,000 music tracks for download to PC and mobile, classic comedy like Father Ted, 3's own chart show hosted by Tom Dunne and Ireland's favourite arm chair pundit, Eamon Dunphy, with The Last Word on 3. 3's music service has been nominated for "best music website" alongside 3's entertainment services at the Digital Media Awards.