SOLARIS MOBILE, a joint venture between European satellite operators SES Astra and Eutelsat Communications, is locating its corporate headquarters in Ireland.

The new company, which specialises in the emerging market for mobile satellite services in Europe, is projected to create up to 50 new jobs over the next three years in Dublin.

All positions will require a third-level qualification, with knowledge of the space, telecoms, regulatory or mobile industries.

The Dublin headquarters will handle all corporate responsibilities for Europe, including regulatory support, sales and marketing, brand awareness, finance, and compliance and legal issues. It will also negotiate and manage partnerships with broadcasters, content developers, network operators and handset manufacturers.

Solaris Mobile has invested €130 million in its new infrastructure which will enable the deployment of a fully-fledged TV service on mobile devices on an "anytime and anywhere" basis, and for the first time, will allow satellite infrastructure to compete and complement with existing terrestrial networks for the provision of broadcasting services to the mobile sector. The services are scheduled for launch in early 2009

"As this is the first joint venture between SES Astra and Eutelsat, it was vital to find the right location for the company HQ," said Steven Maine, Solaris Mobile chief executive. We assessed several possibilities but decided that Dublin would deliver this project to our tight deadlines and with access to the right resources and communication lines."

Meanwhile, broadband provider Digiweb has moved forward plans to hire an additional 40 staff. In March 2007 the company said it planned to create 200 new posts in three years but recruitment has now been accelerated.

The company said expansion of its services necessitated an increase in staff. Digiweb employs 160 people, primarily at offices in Dublin and Dundalk.