Final 3G licence rustles up some (belated) interest

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) says that it has received a formal expression of interest for Ireland’s only unused 3G mobile licence. The regulator has not named the interested party. Three of the country’s four concessions – two ‘B’ licences and one ‘A’ licence with additional spectrum– were originally auctioned off in 2002, but the final ‘B’ licence has remained unsold. Now that an expression of interest has been made ComReg is inviting further interested parties to submit their own expressions in writing by July 17, after which it will conduct a comparative evaluation process. Hutchison Whampoa holds the country’s sole A licence, while O2 Ireland and Vodafone Ireland possess B licences.