Mobile firm 3 passes regulatory hurdle

Mobile phone operator 3 has extended its 3G network to cover 80 per cent of the country's population.

One of the conditions set by the government was for 3G licence winners to guarantee at least 80 per cent coverage by 2007. 3 said that it has added 1,000 new masts this year to reach the target early.

Mike O'Brien MP, minister of state for energy and e-commerce, said: "The UK is setting the standard for successful 3G take up, and 3 is to be congratulated on this significant achievement so far ahead of time.

"The government's key objective in creating a new entrant mobile operator was to increase competition for the benefit of the consumer. The entry of 3 as the new 3G network has proved the value of this objective."

Orange recently launched its own network that currently covers 70 per cent of the country.