Glitch related to O2 takeover leaves some suppliers unpaid

Three Ireland has said it is working to ensure suppliers of O2 Ireland are paid monies owed to them, after a system glitch left some out of pocket in July.

The mobile operator, which recently acquired O2 Ireland, said the system glitch related to the takeover and system changes that followed. It hopes to have all payments processed before the end of this week.

Some suppliers to O2 Ireland did not receive monies owed to them in July, with the network missing payment cycles. The suppliers were told the payments were not processed due to a “system issue”.

“As part of Three’s acquisition of O2 in Ireland, following some system changes, a technical issue has resulted in delayed payment to some of O2’s suppliers,” a spokesman said.

“Three is currently working through the backlog of payments and expects to have the issue fully resolved in the coming days with all overdue payments cleared,” he added.

Three Ireland completed its €780 million takeover of O2 Ireland from Telefónica last month, in a move that makes it the second-biggest telecoms provider in the State. A further additional deferred payment of €70 million is payable dependent upon achievement of agreed financial targets.

The European Commission approved the acquisition, subject to certain conditions, in May.

Three said the acquisition brings its market share in Ireland to nearly 40 per cent and subscriber numbers to more than two million active users.

Three has said it intends to invest about €300 million in its network following the deal.