On June 6 2008 the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) announced the outcome of the 26 GHz National Block Licences award process.

Thirteen national channels have been licensed to 5 different bidders to support national point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications. Each licence will run for ten years and will enable operators to upgrade the backbone of existing and future networks to provide innovative products and services to the consumer.

The details of the award are as follows:

• BT Ireland has been awarded 2 national point-to-point channels.
• Digiweb limited have been awarded 1 national point-to-multipoint channel.
• Irish Broadband has been awarded 1 national point-to-point channel.
• Telefonica O2 Ireland has been awarded 3 national point-to-point channels and 2 national point-to-multipoint channels.
• Vodafone Ireland has been awarded 4 national point-to-point channels.

Each applicant paid the reserve price of €70,000 per 2 x 28 MHz block. In addition Telefonica O2 Ireland paid an additional €30,679 to acquire their preferred point-to-point frequency assignments and Vodafone Ireland paid an additional €158,435 to secure their preferred frequency assignments.

Hutchison 3G Ireland declined the offer of 1 national point-to-point channel.

The final bandplan is shown below.