Irish Panel Upholds Vodafone, 02 Appeal Against Comreg"

DUBLIN -(Dow Jones)- Ireland's Electronic Communications Appeals Panel Wednesday annulled the communication regulator ComReg's ruling that Vodafone PLC and 02 PLC have joint dominance in Ireland's mobile market.

Last February, ComReg designated Vodafone Ireland and 02 Ireland as having joint dominance - or a 90%-plus market share - here and thereby would have been required to open up their Irish networks. This followed a European Commission ruling that they must open up their networks.

Vodafone Ireland said: "Ireland already has four mobile license holders, with another poised to enter, addressing a market of four million customers - a competitive ratio not seen anywhere else in Europe."

Ireland's mobile market is dominated by Vodafone Ireland, with over 50% of the Irish market, and 02 Ireland, which has around 40%. Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. recently entered the market.

Earlier this year, fixed-line operator Eircom Group PLC also agreed to buy mobile phone group Meteor from its U.S. parent Western Wireless Corp. and will launch its service imminently.

At about EUR48 per customer, Ireland's average revenue per user, or ARPU, is among the highest in the E.U. The E.U. average is closer to EUR31.

ComReg said in a statement Wednesday that it will continue to monitor developments in the Irish mobile market and would begin a further review of the sector "to determine the competitiveness of the market."

-By Quentin Fottrell, Dow Jones Newswires; +353-1-6762189; quentin.fottrell@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 14th December 2005