Chorus licence to be revoked

Telecommunications regulator Ms Etain Doyle will revoke Chorus's wireless internet licence and remove some of the wireless service and roll-out requirements for Esat/BT and Eircom under a proposal published yesterday.

The suggested changes come after the Office of the Telecommunications Regulation spent months examining why operators had not complied with conditions of their fixed wireless access licences, awarded in 1999. To date, none of the licence- holders offers a wireless internet service.

The regulator's proposal suggests the reasons for the delay in roll-out include technological developments that have made some equipment obsolete, difficulties for operators in acquiring sites and wayleaves for locating their equipment, and problems obtaining equipment that works.

The regulator proposes to revoke Chorus's licence "as a result of substantial non-compliance with the obligations set out in the licence", according to a notice issued yesterday.

Eircom will be allowed to roll out fewer antenna sites and will not have to offer a centralised switching service because the regulator said it accepted technological developments made these requirements unnecessary. Esat/ BT will not have to construct wireless base stations in Tullamore, Mullingar, Naas or Ennis, but will have to roll out four base stations in other locations in at least three counties.