ESAT Telecom has launched the first phase of its Dublin city network. It will serve the city's business districts including the IFSC.

The fibre-optic loop is the first part of a project which will involve ESAT spending up to £100 million on laying its own infrastructure. The company is also laying cables along CIE's train tracks.

ESAT said yesterday that the city network would provide a range of telecoms solutions. The company would be building local loops in six Irish cities, including eight interlocking rings in Dublin.

ESAT said it would be giving tailored discounts with volume and multiple service usage as well as term discounts for companies which sign contracts for three or five years.

ESAT Telecom is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ESAT Telecom Group, which is currently finalising plans to float 30 per cent of its stock on the NASDAQ.