Those who think that Meteor will not be awarded the Republic's third mobile phone licence believe the future is Orange, but do they represent a lunar fringe?

The recent discovery of water on the moon prompted speculation that a base might one day be built there - and if so, the lunar colonists will be able to call relatives back home on earth. A satellite soon to be in orbit will enable users of the Orange mobile telephone network with special handsets to place calls from anywhere on earth, or the moon, according to the company.

The Iridium satellite's signal will be so strong that it can be picked up anywhere on earth, from the Amazon rainforest to the peak of Mount Everest, according to the British-based would-be licence holder.

"Calls to and from the moon, although seemingly far-fetched, are possible with this new technology," an Orange spokesman said.