EU To Insist Vodafone-MM02 To Open Irish Network -Source

BRUSSELS -(Dow Jones)- The European Union Commission looks set next week to insist that Vodafone PLC (VOD) and MM02 (OOM) open up their Irish mobile networks to competitors, an E.U. official said Friday.

The Irish regulator said the two mobile phone companies enjoyed an overly dominant position on its market and ordered them to open up. But the E.U. Commission must uphold the decision.

Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin is meeting next Wednesday with E.U. Commissioner Viviane Reding in Brussels. But he isn't expected to be able to change the decision. Reding and E.U. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso are scheduled to make the announcement next Friday Jan. 21.

E.U. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes recused herself from the case because she once served on mobile phone company boards.

By Angelika Steinfort, Dow Jones Newswires 32 2 741 1490, europa.de@dowjones.com.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 14th January 2005