O2 Wins Irish 3G License

LONDON -- mmO2 plc today confirmed that O2 Ireland has accepted a 3G 'B' licence.The 'B' licence includes minimum requirements of 33% demographic coverage to be fulfilled by the end of June 2006 and 53% demographic coverage to be fulfilled by the end of June 2008. The total licence fee is €114.1 million phased over 15 years with the first instalment of €44.4 million to be paid up-front.Ireland is the latest country within the O2 Group to have been awarded a 3G licence. The Group already has 3G licences in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. In December 2001, O2 launched Europe's first fully operational 3G network on the Isle of Man. O2 Ltd.