asked the Minister for Communications the number of licences issued by him for the provision of public mobile radio telephone service; the cost of such licences; the number of firms licensed for the supply, installation and maintenance of telecommunications equipment for connection to the public telecommunications network under section 111 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983; the cost of such licences; and the total revenue collected by his Department.
Written Answers. - Public Mobile Radio Telephone Service.
15.
No licence has been issued for the provision of a public mobile radio telephone service nor has a fee for such a licence been fixed. The existing mobile radio telephone service is operated by Bord Telecom Éireann under the exclusive privilege granted to that company under section 87 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983.
Fifty four persons or firms are currently licensed, under section 111 of the 1983 Act, to supply, instal and maintain telecommunications equipment for connection to the public telecommunications network. A further 20 applications for such licences are being considered. The licence fee involved in all cases is £150 for 1986 except for BTE's licence which includes an exclusive licence to supply telephone handsets and costs £35,000 for 1986. A total of £10,950 in respect of licence fees has been collected in 1986 to date.