LONDON-MmO2 confirmed that it accepted a third-generation license in Ireland for $112.4 million.
The “B” license includes minimum requirements of 33-percent demographic coverage by the end of June 2006 and 53 -percent coverage by the end of June 2008. A first payment of $43.8 million is due upfront, with the remainder to be paid over the 15-year license period.
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and Vodafone Group plc were awarded Irish 3G licenses in June. They were the only companies to bid for one of four licenses on offer in Ireland. Hutchison holds the country’s “A” license, which has a more aggressive rollout schedule, more spectrum than the three B licenses and mobile virtual network operator requirements. Vodafone holds one of the B licenses.
MmO2 also has 3G licenses in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. It also has a commercial 3G network on the Isle of Man.
