Smart Telecom the Irish IP-MPLS operator that last year won a 3G licence in what looked like a permit too far, is in its death throes now. The company has been self-destructing for months.

Its licence award (click here) came at the expense of incumbent eircom, which was frankly unimpressed. In a 2G/3Gcellular market dominated by O2, Vodafone and Hutchison, the decision also looked like a convolution of normal market principles. This is not new in Ireland.

On Monday, eircom lost patience with Smart Telecom over an apparent €4mn in unpaid interconnection fees; Smart’s London-listed shares were suspended shortly afterwards.

Regulator ComReg yesterday held what it described as “intensive discussions” with eircom to Smart Telecom subscribers. eircom is itself more naked in its stance: “Your Smart Telecom service may no longer be available. The Industry regulator, Comreg can help you with a list of alternative service providers”, it says.

For its part, ComReg said yesterday: “ComReg is pleased to announce that the solution reached will result in service being restored to affected customers within three days. Customers will be allowed to make local calls and national calls, as well as now being able to make calls to the emergency services. Customers may also receive incoming calls.”

Smart said yesterday: “Please note any Smart Telecom customers experiencing loss of voice service. We expect to have full service resumed as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Any resumption of service should be just long enough for Smart customers to change to half-decent company.
Jim Chalmers