Meteor Mobile Communications operate a GSM cellular communications network in the Republic of Ireland. They issue their new numbers with the code 085, although the introduction of total-number-portability makes access codes a little less relevant on mobile phone systems.
Launched on the 22nd of February, 2001 after a lengthy legal battle to obtain a licence, Meteor slowly picked up a low (under 10%) share of the Irish market. However, they are profitable, and have picked up much of the lucractive pre-pay market among teenagers, due to their low SMS rates. They also pick up more (41%) of all new pre-pay accounts than the other two networks.
Their coverage is often claimed to be very poor by their competitors, but it covers (according to their website) over 90% of the population, and a recent deal with Siemens AG will see them cover almost the entire country by 2005.
Meteor sponsor Ireland national music awards each year, and they have hence become known as the The Meteors.
Meteors corporarte identity is strongly Orange, with an undertone of white (originally grey). This is seen by some to be a slight taunt at the Orange mobile phone giant who had applied for the licence which Meteor got.
Meteor are held privately by Peter Quinn, their founder, and Western Wireless Ineternational, a large cellular networks infrastructure group.