Three Irish mobile operators have lodged appeals against a ruling by the communications regulator designed to introduce "virtual operators" to the market.

The appeals to the Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey will be heard by the electronic communication appeals panel.

The appeals will lead to a lengthy delay in the implementation of the recent ruling by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) on so-called "virtual operators".

The appeals panel has yet to rule on an earlier, unrelated appeal lodged last September.

ComReg's ruling would force Vodafone and O2 to open their networks to "virtual operators" that want to provide mobile services but don't have their own network. ComReg says its ruling - which labels the operators as jointly dominant - will cut prices for consumers by introducing competition to the market. Vodafone and O2, which together hold about 90 per cent market share, submitted appeals in the past few days. Last night, the third operator, Meteor, also appealed the decision, although it is not being forced to open its network.

"When Meteor as a third operator appeals a decision, it is a clear sign this is bad regulation which will not benefit the consumer and will ultimately be bad for competition," a Meteor spokesman said yesterday.

"We do not think the regulator has taken proper account of comments by the European Commission on the changing market here and the possible requirement to review the decision shortly."

A spokesman for the fourth mobile licence holder, Hutchison 3G Ireland, which has not yet launched a consumer mobile phone service, last night said the firm had not submitted an appeal to yesterday's 5pm deadline.

Analysts said yesterday that Hutchison 3G Ireland and Meteor would probably be hardest hit by the entry of "virtual operators" as they had not yet built up strong customer bases.