Mercury One-2-One: the catalyst for change in telecommunications service

Following evaluation of 8 applications for the design, implementation and operation of Personal Communications Networks, 3 nationwide operating licences were awarded by the Department of Trade and Industry in December 1989 to Unitel, Mercury Personal Communications Networks, and Microtel. After a period of consolidation reflecting conditions in the marketplace, the principal shareholders of Unitel and Mercury decided in March 1992 to merge their PCN interests into a single jointly-owned venture-Mercury Personal Communications. This new company was re-named Mercury One-2-One in early 1993, which is also the name of the service, re-inforcing the direct relationship between operator and customer, and underlining the service as being person-to-person