ESB International and British Telecom will consider submitting for the 3rd mobile telephone licence. The competition for the licence is to be announced later this year and the terms are not yet known.

The new telecommunications regulator, Ms Etain Doyle, who will he given her powers in July, will be responsible for the selection process for the new DCS 1800 mobile telephone licence.

It is understood ESB and BT will examine contesting for the licence once the terms are announced, and will probably look for a third partner.