Around 45,000 telephone users disconnected over a dispute between rival telecoms companies are to have their service restored, it emerged tonight.
An interim deal between Smart Telecom and Eircom hammered out in crunch talks with industry regulator ComReg will see affected lines reconnected within three days.
ComReg said the telephone users will then be able choose the service provider of their choice.
The Smart Telecom customers have been unable to make local, national or international calls from yesterday when their service was withdrawn without warning.
Eircom, which provides the network for Smart Telecom, withdrew the service because the smaller company was not paying its own bills, and has worked up debts believed to be around four million euro.
Since 5pm yesterday, Smart Telecom customers have been able only to receive incoming calls and make emergency 999 calls.
Smart has asked the London Stock Exchange to suspend trading of its shares on the Alternative Investment Market until it clarifies its financial and operating position.