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NTL Ireland breaches MMDS licence rules

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  • 16-08-2002 2:23am
    #1
    kamobe
    Registered Users Posts: 857 ✭✭✭


    Ah the indo...
    SO informative:
    CABLE TV company NTL Ireland has breached its MMDS licence requirements by not digitising its non-digital TV signals in parts of Dublin, Galway and Mayo on time.


    It is now 18 months behind the original deadline agreed with the regulator.


    The company is currently in negotiations with a potential buyer of the licences that may lead to the sale of the three licences.


    The deadline for all of NTL's MMDS subscribers to be digitised was January 1, 2001, according to the terms of its licences.


    The Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR) confirmed the date yesterday to the Irish Independent.


    A spokesperson for the ODTR said the body is aware of the situation, and that talks are ongoing between the two parties.




    She added that the ODTR will keep the situation under review, but could not confirm whether or not the regulatory body could impose fines, or in some way penalise NTL for breaking the terms of the licences.


    Accountants Chapman Flood Mazars are already carrying out due diligence on the MMDS services on behalf of a consortium headed up by Kevin Windle, the former managing director of Cablelink, which was bought by NTL back in 2000 for #535m. NTL outbid Denis O'Brien for Cablelink.




    Up until last September, it is believed that a number of US companies were interested in the MMDS business. However, after the events of September 11, many American companies pulled in their reins in terms of investment.


    However, a fire sale of the business is not a foregone conclusion, sources said.


    The sources added that it is unlikely that NTL will accept the reported €3m for the assets, claiming that it makes no financial sense that NTL would sell the business at €150 per subscriber when it paid #1,500 per subscriber back in 2000.


    According to NTL, it has 21,000 MMDS subscribers in its franchise areas.



    Ailish O'Hora



Comments

  • Options
    #2
    Moriarty
    Registered Users Posts: 6,007 ✭✭✭Moriarty


    You what? NTL have an MMDS network?! :confused:


  • Options
    #3
    bkehoe
    Registered Users Posts: 2,153 ✭✭✭bkehoe


    They do....wonder why they werent supposed to bring digital to mmds around here (waterford...new ross...etc)?


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