DUBLIN, Ireland-A Supreme Court decision ended a two-year-old dispute over Ireland’s third cellular license. U.S.-Irish consortium Meteor can now establish Ireland’s third wireless network to compete with established operators Esat Digifone and Eircell.
In June 1998, the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR), the Irish telecom regulator, granted the 15-year license to Meteor, which comprises Western Wireless Corp. and Ireland’s RF Communications. Orange plc filed a lawsuit claiming the regulator had failed to give adequate reasons for granting the license to Meteor.
Ireland’s High Court backed Orange last October; Meteor then appealed to the Supreme Court.
Meteor said it has continued to develop its infrastructure and will offer commercial services within the nine-month time frame stipulated in the terms of the license award.
“Today’s judgment is good news for us, and it’s good news for the Irish people, who can now look forward to the increased competition, cheaper prices and better services that we plan to bring to the market,” said Sean Finlay, chief executive of RF Communications.
