Smart Mobile has been offered the country's fourth 3G licence by the Commission for Communications Regulation.
ComReg said that Smart's application did well on areas such as the speed of its network rollout and coverage to be provided at key milestones, backed up by attractive performance guarantees. It said that as a new market entrant to the Irish mobile market, the company earned maximum points under the promotion of competition criterion.
'I welcome this renewed interest in 3G as a reflection of the continuing improvement in confidence in the telecoms sector,' commented ComReg Chairperson Isolde Goggin.
'The awarding of an additional licence provides an opportunity to enhance competition and provide consumers with greater choice,' she added.
Smart Mobile will now be asked to formally accept the 3G 'B' licence and comply with associated conditions.
Three applications were received for the last remaining 3G licence from Eircom, Meteor and Smart. The licence provides for a minimum of 53% coverage to be achieved by October 2011. This is equivalent to coverage of the five major cities of Ireland.
Vodafone, O2 and 3 Ireland hold the existing licences.
