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Ireland
last updated: December 19, 2001
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December 18, 2001
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Ireland's telecommunications industry regulator on Tuesday announced
the cost of bidding for the country's 3G mobile phone licences.
country's finance ministry, plans to award four licences via a "beauty
contest" rather than through auction. The "A" licence, requiring
greater network coverage, will cost 50.7 million euros, and the
"B" licences 114.3 million.
One "A" licence on offer would require companies to provide coverage
to at least 80 percent of the population, while the three "B" licences
would require coverage of Ireland's five largest cities -- around
53 percent.
There will be an upfront payment of 12.7 million euros for the
"A" licence and 44.4 million for the "B" licences, followed by a
moratorium of three years to five years, with the deferred payments
over the fourth to 15th years of the 20-year licences. The closing
date for receipt of applications will be 27th March 2002.
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November 25, 2001
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Negotiations on the fee to be charged for Irish 3G mobile phone
licences are understood to have progressed with a view to a settlement
before the end of the year. It is thought that the Department of
Finance has tabled new proposals that could extend the life of the
licences, effectively lowering the licence fee.
The fee has been the subject of a row between the department and
the telecoms regulator for over a year, leaving Ireland as the last
European Union country to issue 3G licences. Four 3G licences --
one A licence offering nationwide coverage and three B licences
with an urban focus -- were due to have been issued by the end of
this year.
The telecoms regulator has recommended that £25 million be charged
for the A licence and around £60 million for each of the B licences.
It is understood that the department will not budge on its desire
to charge £50 million for the A licence and £100 million for each
of the B licences.
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2nd Jun 01:
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Ireland has already missed the deadline of June 1st, 2001, the
date originally targeted by the Office of the Director for Telecommunication
Regulation for the issuing of 3G licences in Ireland.
End of 2001, estimated price of US$140 million using beauty contest.
One license will also include some GSM900 spectrum.
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8th Jan 01:
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The Irish telecoms regulator is planning to offer four
licences at around US$116million through a beauty contest, which is
likely to go ahead in April or May 2001. One of the four licences
will be reserved for a new entrant to the market. |
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