Ireland: O2 launches 3G network

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O2 Ireland has commenced a limited 3G network launch among selected business and individual customers. O2's 3G network coverage extends to 35 per cent of the population and covers major urban centres such as Dublin city and county and the cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny.

Ireland's Telecoms regulator Comreg, welcomed O2's move and said that both Vodafone's and O2's launches complete the first phase of the 3G licensing process. Comreg chairperson, John Doherty noted : "Today's announcement by O2 is a significant milestone in the roll-out of 3G services throughout Ireland. I am pleased to see that all the operators now have their 3G networks up and running, and I look forward to the wider availability of next generation services to mobile users in the near future."

Some 25 customers have been equipped with Nokia 6650 handsets and are using O2's 3G network for their voice and data communications. Commenting on the launch, Danuta Gray, O2 Ireland's CEO, said: "Our intention is to introduce the service on a more widespread