RTE helped Century Radio to come on air before target dates agreed for the start of transmission, the Flood tribunal has heard.
In some cases Century had coverage in areas of the State almost two years before the date in the schedule for transmission, according to Mr Colm Curley, former assistant director of engineering in RTE.
"The technical staff were prepared to bend over backwards to get Century on air. There was absolutely no case of anyone in any way impeding that," Mr Curley said.
In July, Mr James Stafford, cofounder of Century, told the tribunal that there had been delays in coverage provided to Century.
At the Mount Leinster transmission point Century had coverage from November 1989, although the date agreed in the schedule was the third quarter of 1991, the tribunal heard yesterday.
In Limerick city, Century had coverage from September 1989, but no date was set for coverage in Limerick in the schedule.
"What was achieved in a short amount of time was remarkable . . . RTE provided coverage well ahead of schedule", Mr Curley said.
Despite this, Century Radio made public statements accusing RTE of stalling the process to provide transmission coverage, he added.
Statements were released to the media from Century after meetings with RTE to discuss how the project to set up transmission would unfold. "The public statements would come out as if such meetings had never taken place and Century had never been informed," Mr Curley said.
In early 1990, when Century was in financial difficulties, it had told RTE that an order for equipment would be deferred. As a result, the installation of equipment to achieve further coverage was postponed, he added.
In initial meetings, Century had told RTE officials that the priority was to get on air as soon as possible. As a result, temporary installations for transmission were made which would have been less reliable than what RTE was using, Mr Curley said.