Vodafone Ireland facts for kids
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Vodafone Ireland Headquarters in Leopardstown, Dublin
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Formerly
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Eircell |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Mobile Telecommunication |
| Founded |
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| Headquarters | MountainView, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 D18 XN97 |
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Area served
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Ireland |
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Key people
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| Products | Mobile network, telecom services |
| Brands | Vodafone Smart |
| Parent | Vodafone Group plc |
Vodafone Ireland Limited is a big company in Ireland. It is part of the larger Vodafone Group. Vodafone Ireland provides services like mobile phone service and broadband internet.
The company started when the Vodafone Group bought a company called Eircell. Eircell used to be the mobile phone part of Telecom Éireann. By September 2019, Vodafone had a large share of internet and mobile phone users in Ireland. They had 26% of broadband users and 43% of mobile phone users.
Vodafone Ireland offers many services. These include calls, text messages (SMS), picture messages (MMS), and mobile internet. They use different types of networks for this. These include 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.
Their 4G network started in October 2013. Vodafone says their 4G network covers over 99% of Ireland. They also have a faster 4G called 4G+. This allows for even quicker internet speeds. It was first available in big towns and cities. Vodafone's 5G service began in 2019.
Vodafone Ireland offers both contract (bill pay) and prepay services. This means you can pay a monthly bill or top up your phone as you go. They offer mobile phone plans and mobile internet plans.
The company also provides home internet services. These include traditional phone lines and high-speed broadband. They use networks from other companies like SIRO and Open Eir. Vodafone also has its own equipment in some local areas. This helps them provide better service.
Phone numbers from Vodafone Ireland usually start with 087. However, people can keep their phone number when they switch networks. So, the starting numbers do not always show which network a phone is on.
Contents
How Vodafone Ireland Started: Eircell
Eircell began in 1986. It was the mobile phone part of Telecom Éireann. The first digital mobile network (GSM) started in July 1993. Eircell managed Irish mobile phone networks from 1984. They used the numbers 088 and 087. This continued until Vodafone took over in 2001.
Not many people used mobile phones at first. Usage grew when Eircell became its own company in 1997. In October 1997, Eircell launched "Ready To Go." This was a "pay as you go" system. It made mobile phones popular for everyone in Ireland.
From early 1997, Eircell had a competitor called Esat Digifone. In 2000, Vodafone wanted to buy Eircell. Eircell became a separate company called Eircell 2000 plc. Then, Vodafone bought it. In 2002, Eircell Vodafone changed its name to Vodafone Ireland.
In 2001, Eircell stopped using its old analogue system (088). Now, Vodafone Ireland only uses digital networks like GSM and UMTS.
Changing the Brand: Rebranding
When Vodafone bought Eircell, they changed its look and feel. Eircell used to be known for a deep purple color. When Vodafone changed its brand to its famous red color, they used a catchy phrase. The phrase was: "Red is the new purple, Vodafone is the new name for Eircell."
Vodafone Ireland launched 3G services in 2004. They were ahead of other companies like O2 Ireland and Three Ireland. At first, only customers with monthly contracts could use 3G. But from June 2, 2005, prepay customers could also use 3G.
Buying Perlico
On November 13, 2007, Vodafone Ireland bought a company called Perlico. Perlico was a smaller company that sold home phone and internet services. Vodafone paid €80 million for it. This was part of Vodafone's plan to offer more services. After the purchase, Perlico became a full part of Vodafone Ireland.
Taking Over BT Customers
On July 22, 2009, BT Ireland agreed to transfer its home and small business customers to Vodafone. This deal helped Vodafone become a major home internet provider in Ireland. Vodafone used BT's network to provide these services.
See also
- List of companies of Ireland
