Information is set out below on the long-term licences issued for mobile & wireless broadband, mobile voice and text services in Ireland. These are the:
The Liberalised Use Licences (2.1 GHz Band, MBSA1, 3.6 GHz and MBSA2) are all technology and service neutral thereby allowing the provision of mobile wireless broadband services and fixed wireless broadband services using the 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G technologies as appropriate.
The 3G Licence is a service and technology specific licence only allowing the provision of 3G services.
Information on the apparatus and site locations licensed in the schedules of these licences is updated annually and the non-confidential version of this information is set out here.
In 2002 and 2007, following 3G licence competitions, four 3G Licences were issued for spectrum rights in the 2.1 GHz band each for a 20 year period.
These licences were issued under the 3G Licensing Framework of S.I 345 of 2022, as amended by S.I. 340 of 2003, and are service and technology specific to the provision of 3G services.
Between 2021 and 2023, a 2.1 GHz Band Liberalised Use Licence was issued to each of the 3G Licensees. These licences were issued under the licensing framework of S.I. 265 of 2021 and are technology and service neutral allowing the provision of mobile and fixed wireless broadband services in 2.1 GHz band, using the 3G, 4G and 5G technologies as appropriate.
Three of the 3G Licences (and the corresponding 2.1 GHz Band Liberalised Use Licences) expired in 2022 and the remaining 3G licence (and corresponding 2.1 GHz Band Liberalised Use Licence) expires in 2027 as detailed below.
| 2.1 GHz Band Licensee | Licence type | Licence Commencement & Expiry | Quantum of Spectrum in 2.1 GHz band | Spectrum Assignment | Licence* |
| Eircom Limited | 3G Licence | 12 March 2007 to 11 March 2027 |
2 x 15 MHz | 1965–1980 MHz / 2155–2170 MHz |
L3G1004 |
| Eircom Limited | 2.1 GHz Band Liberalised Use Licence | 02 April 2023 to 11 March 2027 |
2 x 15 MHz | 1965–1980 MHz / 2155–2170 MHz |
21L1004 |
* Information on the apparatus and site locations licensed in the schedules of these licences is updated annually and the non-confidential version of this information is set out HERE.
In 2013 following the Multi-Band Spectrum Award of 2012 (“‘MBSA1”) four MBSA1 Liberalised Use Licences were issued for spectrum rights in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, each for a 17½-year period expiring on 12 July 2030.
These licences were issued under the MBSA1 Liberalised Use Licensing Framework of S.I 251 of 2012 as amended by S.I 380 of 2024 and are technology- and service-neutral allowing the provision of mobile and fixed wireless broadband services compatible with the relevant European Decisions harmonising the spectrum bands, using the 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G technologies as appropriate.
| MBSA1 Licensee |
Licence Commencement & Expiry | Quantum of Spectrum in band | Spectrum Assignment | Licence* |
| Eircom Limited | 01 Feb 2013 to 12 July 2030 |
800 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 900 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 1800 MHz: 2 x 15 MHz |
800 MHz: 832–842 / 791–801 MHz 900 MHz: 880–890 / 925–935 MHz 1800 MHz: 1770–1785 / 1865–1880 MHz |
|
| Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited | 01 Feb 2013 to 12 July 2030 |
800 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 900 MHz: 2 x 15 MHz
|
800 MHz: 842–852 / 801–811 MHz 900 MHz: 890–900 / 935–945 MHz & 910–915 / 955–960 MHz 1800 MHz: 1710–1725 / 1805–1820 MHz & 1750–1770 / 1845–1865 MHz |
|
| Vodafone Ireland Limited | 01 Feb 2013 to 12 July 2030 |
800 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 900 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 1800 MHz: 2 x 25 MHz |
800 MHz: 852–862 / 811–821 MHz 900 MHz: 900–910 / 945–955 MHz 1800 MHz: 1725–1750 / 1820–1845 MHz |
|
* Information on the apparatus and site locations licensed in the schedules of these licences is updated annually and the non-confidential version of this information is set out HERE.
The table above shows the spectrum assignments for time slice 2 of the MBSA1 Licence. For further information on the MBSA1 spectrum assignments, see ComReg Document 12/131.
In 2017 following the 3.6 GHz Band Award, five 3.6 GHz Band Liberalised Use Licences were issued, each for a 15-year period expiring on 31 July 2032.
These licences were issued under the 3.6 GHz Band Licensing Framework of S.I 532 of 2016 and are technology- and service-neutral allowing the provision of mobile and fixed wireless broadband services compatible with the relevant European Decisions for the 3.6 GHz band, using the 4G and 5G technologies as appropriate.
In these licences, spectrum rights were issued for nine regions, five urban and four rural. The five urban regions are the cities and suburbs of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The four rural regions are the Borders Midlands and West, the South-West, the East and the South-East.
| 3.6 GHz Band Licensee | Licence Commencement & Expiry | Quantum of 3.6 GHz Spectrum in Region | 3.6 GHz Spectrum Assignment in Region | Licence* |
| Dense Air | 01 August 2017 to 31 July 2024** |
RURAL: 25 MHz URBAN: 60 MHz |
RURAL: 3410–3435 MHz URBAN: 3410–3435 MHz & 3580–3615 MHz |
Licence surrendered with effect from 31 July 2024 |
| Eircom Limited | 01 August 2017 to 31 July 2032 |
RURAL: 80 MHz URBAN: 85 MHz |
RURAL: 3620-3700 MHz URBAN: 3615–3700 MHz |
3L1001 |
| Imagine Communications Limited | 01 August 2017 to 31 July 2032 |
RURAL: 60 MHz | RURAL: 3560–3620 MHz | 3L1004 |
| Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited | 01 August 2017 to 31 July 2032 |
RURAL: 100 MHz URBAN: 100 MHz |
RURAL: 3700–3800 MHz URBAN: 3700–3800 MHz |
3L1003 |
| Vodafone Ireland Limited | 01 August 2017 to 31 July 2032 |
RURAL: 85 MHz URBAN: 105 MHz |
RURAL: 3475–3560 MHz URBAN: 3475 3580 MHz |
3L1002 |
* Information on the apparatus and site locations licensed in the schedules of these licences is updated annually and the non-confidential version of this information is set out HERE.
** Following correspondence from Dense Air, ComReg accepted the surrender of Dense Air’s 3.6 GHz Band licence with effect from Wednesday 31 July 2024. In relation to these returned spectrum rights ComReg notes that:
• at this time there is likely to be little demand for these rights as prior to handing back the 3.6 GHz band licence to ComReg, Dense Air would inevitably have exhausted its other options to sell or transfer the spectrum rights to other parties; and
• as ComReg completes its proposed 2025-2028 MFCN workplan, and notably its proposal to consult on the expiry of MBSA1 licences (as discussed in Document 24/65), it is likely that spectrum in the 3.6 GHz band may need to be considered in the round.
In 2023 following the Multi-Band Spectrum Award of 2022 (“MBSA2”) four MBSA2 Liberalised Use Licences were issued for spectrum rights in the 700 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands, each for a circa 19-year period expiring on 13 February 2042.
These licences were issued under the MBSA2 Liberalised Use Licensing framework of S.I. 264 of 2021 as amended by S.I. 483 of 2022 and S.I. 594 of 2023. They are technology-and service-neutral allowing the provision of mobile and fixed wireless broadband services compatible with the relevant European Decisions harmonising the spectrum bands, using the 3G, 4G and 5G technologies as appropriate.
| MBSA2 Licensee | Licence Commencement & Expiry | Quantum of Spectrum in band | Spectrum Assignment | Licence* |
| Eircom Limited | 20 January 2023 to 13 Feb 2042 |
700 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 2.1 GHz: 2 x 20 MHz 2.3 GHz: 60 MHz |
700 MHz: 703–713 / 758 – 768 MHz 2.1 GHz: 1960–1980 / 2150–2170 MHz 2.3 GHz TDD: 2300-2360 MHz |
|
| Imagine Communications Limited | 20 January 2023 to 13 Feb 2042 |
2.3 GHz TDD: 40 MHz 2.6 GHz TDD: 15 MHz |
2.3 GHz TDD: 2360–2400 MHz 2.6 GHz TDD: 2570–2585 MHz |
LU1005 |
| Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited | 20 January 2023 to 13 Feb 2042 |
700 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 2.1 GHz: 2 x 20 MHz 2.6 GHz: 2 x 35 MHz |
700 MHz: 713–723 / 768–778 MHz 2.1 GHz: 1920–1940 / 2110–2130 MHz 2.6 GHz: 2500–2535 / 2620–2655 MHz |
LU1007 |
| Vodafone Ireland Limited | 20 January 2023 to 13 Feb 2042 |
700 MHz: 2 x 10 MHz 2.1 GHz: 2 x 20 MHz 2.6 GHz: 2 x 35 MHz 2.6 GHz TDD: 30 MHz |
700 MHz: 723–733 / 778–788 MHz 2.1 GHz: 1940–1960 / 2130 2150 MHz 2.6 GHz: 2535–2570 / 2655–2690 MHz 2.6 GHz TDD: 2585–2615 MHz |
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* Information on the apparatus and site locations licensed in the schedules of these licences is updated annually and the non-confidential version of this information is set out HERE.
The table above shows the spectrum assignments for time slice 2 of the MBSA2 Licence. For further information on the MBSA2 spectrum assignments, see ComReg Document 23/06.