3G & GSM Licensing Information

3G - Third Generation Mobile Telephony Service

A 3G licence allows the licensee to provide a Third Generation Mobile Telephony services based upon a standard within the IMT-2000 family of standards.

The IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications – 2000) standard is the global standard for third generation (3G) wireless communications as defined by the International Telecommunication Union.

Details on 3G regulations:

The regulations governing the issue of a 3G licence are the:

Wireless Telegraphy (Third Generation and GSM Mobile Telephony Licence) Regulations, 2002 (S.I. 345 of 2002);
Wireless Telegraphy (Third Generation and GSM Mobile Telephony Licence) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. 340 of 2003)

Details on Existing 3G Licensees:

3G Licensees
Licensee Name	Competition Format	Licence Commitments	Licence Issue Date	Licence Duration	Frequency
Vodafone Ireland Limited	Beauty Contest	ComReg Document 04/18	16/10/2002	20 years	1950–1965 MHz / 2140–2155 MHz (2 x 15 MHz) 1905–1910 MHz (1 x 5 MHz)
Telefónica O2 Communications (Ireland) Ltd	Beauty Contest	ComReg Document 04/17	02/10/2002	20 years	1965–1980 MHz / 2155–2170 MHz (2 x 15 MHz) 1910–1915 MHz (1 x 5 MHz)
Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd	Beauty Contest	ComReg Document 04/16	25/06/2002	20 years	1920–1935 MHz / 2110–2125 MHz (2 x 15 MHz)
Meteor Mobile Communications Ltd	Beauty Contest	ComReg Document 10/13	12/03/2007	20 years	1935–1950 MHz / 2125–2140 MHz (2 x 15 MHz) 1900–1905 MHz (1 x 5 MHz)

GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications

A GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) licence allows the licensee to provide a GSM mobile telephony service in the 900 MHz and/or 1800 MHz frequency band.

Details on GSM regulations

The regulations governing the issue of a GSM licence are the:

Wireless Telegraphy (GSM and TACS Mobile Telephony Licence) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. 468 of 1997);
Wireless Telegraphy (GSM and TACS Mobile Telephony Licence) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. 442 of 1999); and
Wireless Telegraphy (GSM Mobile Telephony Licence) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. 339 of 2003).

Details on Existing GSM Licensees

GSM Licensees
Licensee Name	Competition Format	Licence Commitments	Licence Issue Date		Licence Duration	Frequency
Vodafone Ireland Limited	Incumbent Mobile Operator (Previously Eircell)	ComReg Document 00/01s	GSM 900	16/05/1996	15 years	900.1 – 907.3 MHz / 945.1 – 952.3 MHz (2 x 7.2 MHz)
			GSM 1800	01/01/2000	15 years	1736.3 - 1750.7 / 1831.3 - 1845.7 MHz (2 x 14.4 MHz)
Telefónica O2 Communications (Ireland) Ltd	Beauty Contest	ComReg Document 00/03s	GSM 900	16/05/1996	15 years	907.5 - 914.7 MHz / 952.5 - 959.7 MHz (2 x 7.2 MHz)
			GSM 1800	01/01/2000	15 years	1750.9 - 1765.3 MHz / 1845.9 - 1860.3 MHz (2x14.4 MHz)
Meteor Mobile Communications Ltd	Beauty Contest	ComReg Document 01/46s	GSM 900	18/06/2000	15 years	892.7 - 899.9 MHz / 937.7 - 944.9 MHz (2 x 7.2 MHz)
			GSM 1800	18/06/2000	15 years	1765.5 - 1779.9 MHz / 1860.5 - 1874.9 MHz (2 x 14.4 MHz)