Eircom appeals Esat/BT deal

Eircom has lodged an objection with the European Commission to the proposed $2.5 billion (€2.6 billion) takeover by British Telecom of Esat, the number two telecoms player in the Irish market. The former State company fears the merged group will control many of the key telecoms traffic routes between Ireland, Britain and the US. Eircom remains the dominant player in the Irish market.