Vodafone takes over BT's Irish broadband customers

22nd Jul 2009 15:15

Mobile telecoms firm Vodafone has agreed a deal to takeover BT's consumer and small business broadband and voice customer base in Ireland.BT will also provide wholesale network services to underpin Vodafone's business over a seven-year period. BT said it will continue to focus on becoming the number one provider of networked IT services to mid and large sized businesses and the public sector in Ireland. It said the today's announcement combines Vodafone's strength in sales, marketing and distribution with BT's expertise in the delivery of managed network services. The value of the gross assets related to this transaction was €4.8m at 31 March 2009."This is a very positive chapter in Ireland's telecoms history and will open up the market to greater competition and choice. BT has made remarkable strides in Ireland in recent years in securing landmark managed services deals with corporate customers, the public sector and other communications providers," said CEO of BT Ireland Chris Clark.Charles Butterworth, CEO of Vodafone Ireland, said: "This deal strongly positions Vodafone as the no 2 player in the fixed broadband market. Our strategy is to compete aggressively in the fixed market to deliver real value, bring best-in-class products to market and build a sizeable fixed base to rival other participants in this market."