Licenses have been issued for two new mobile phone operators on the island.

One is Cable & Wireless International who already operate a cross-Island telecom link. The other operator is Wire9 Telecom, who, through its Manx subsidiary Cloud9 Mobile Communications, will be introducing a new mobile service with local Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

The firm says mobile telephones will transfer to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) when near WiFi hotspots.

Communications Commission Chairman, John Shimmin MHK says that
Manx customers will now have real choice and that Cable & Wireless and Wire9 will provide a challenge for the incumbent operator, Manx Telecom, in a fully competitive market.”