3 launches 3G in Ireland

July 26, 2005

3 launched its service in Ireland, bringing much needed competition to the country's stale mobile phone market by offering an unprecedented level of value and service to Irish consumers, as well as access to the most advanced 3G network in the country.

3 is challenging the old networks by introducing simple, great value price plans starting at just EUR 25 per month, and including generous bundles of anytime, any network voice minutes and texts. Also, 3 is the first network to include a huge range of 3G video entertainment services with every price plan at no extra cost. With 99.5 percent population coverage for voice and text and a high quality 3G service covering 60 percent of the population, 3 will provide first-rate service to Irish mobile phone users from day one.

For 3, Europe's largest 3G network with over 7 million customers in Europe, customer satisfaction and loyalty is key to its ongoing success. Continuing its commitment to provide exemplary levels of service, 3 will set a new industry benchmark in Ireland, with customer-focused initiatives including a handset replacement programme that will aim in many cases to replace faulty handsets within a matter of hours of the reported problem, instead of days or weeks - the current market standard.

Bob Fuller, 3 CEO, said, "3 is here to put the customer first. 3 was Europe's first video mobile network and we're the largest 3G network in Europe. Our VideoTalk price plans offer a package of voice, content and video services at an unrivalled and sustainable price. 3 has upset the status quo in every market where it has launched in Europe and we will do the same in Ireland by challenging the old networks and bringing great value and new levels of service to customers."

Stephen Pilkington, Commercial Director, 3 Ireland, added: "With 99.5 percent population coverage from day one for voice and text services, a great range of state-of-the-art video mobile handsets, unbeatable value and service, and an exciting and innovative range of video mobile services for all, there's every reason to switch to 3."

3's Great Value Price Plans

3's price plans are designed to be simple and fair, offering bundles of any network, anytime voice minutes and texts, as well as unlimited access to a range of video mobile content.

3's great value plans are available at three price points: EUR 25 a month, EUR 45 a month and EUR 60 a month. 3's price plans are only available on twelve-month contracts.

3 is also running an offer until the end of 2005, whereby customers can make video calls for the same price as voice calls and send video messages for the same price as picture messages.

Stephen Pilkington commented, "With the launch of our price plans, 3 has set a new benchmark for value for Irish mobile users. These plans offer the most generous and flexible bundle of minutes or calls on the market at their respective price points. We don't say who you can call or at what time - it's up to you, and we've designed our price plans to be fair and easy to understand. On 3 there's no peak rate times or minimum call charges. And everyone gets access to video mobile services."

3's Great Service In addition to 24X7 customer service, 3 is offering the most comprehensive post sales service package available in the Republic of Ireland

If a handset develops a fault, 3 will courier a replacement handset to the customer wherever they are in Ireland - in many cases this will be in as quick as 3 hours.

A 14-day, no quibble money back guarantee if a customer is dissatisfied with 3's products or services.

If a handset is lost, stolen or accidentally damaged within the first 12 months, 3 will provide a replacement mobile handset and SIM card on a new 12 month contract for a small charge of EUR 50.

A 24-month warranty on all handsets, which is well beyond the normal 12-month manufacturer's warranty.

3's Great Content and 3G Services

As a pure 3G operator, 3 believes all its customers should benefit from 3G content. 3's customers will get unlimited access to a selection of the best 3G mobile video content available, including highlights from all next season's matches from the Barclays Premiership, Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions, video and text news bulletins, film clips, comedy sketches, and horoscopes - all of which are included as standard for 3's customers. Also included is GAA news and scores, weather and coming soon, RTE video news.

This means that with the start of the football season, 3 will be delivering on average over thirty minutes of video content a day to customers, all at no extra cost. 3 is also offering a range of additional video mobile products and services, which are not included in the price plans, including full-length music videos available to download or stream for the first time in Ireland, games, and extras, including ringtones and wallpapers.

3's Coverage

3 launches its service to consumers with 99.5 percent population coverage for voice and text and approximately 60 percent population coverage for its fast-growing video mobile (3G) services. This will allow customers to access 3's full range of video mobile services in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and numerous other towns and areas across Ireland. 3's 3G network will continue to roll-out at a rapid pace over the coming months.

3's Handset Range

3 is launching with five of the latest video mobile handsets, two of which are available exclusively online at www.3Ireland.ie, with prices starting at an astounding EUR 19. 3's handsets are available across a range of price points, with all five going on sale in July. The handsets include the NEC 338, Motorola V97, LG U8138, Motorola E1000 and Nokia 6680.