1.   Ireland won a two-year exemption from EU rules to open voice telephony to competition from January.

2.   Services covered by the agreement include voice telephony, data transmission, fax, satellite systems and cellular services.

3.   The deadline applies to all telecommunications services, including voice telephony.

4.   It wants to expand into traditional voice telephony for businesses and for private customers later, Suelle said.

5.   While Portugal was allowed to put off liberalisation of basic voice telephony services, it will have to move faster in the most advanced and lucrative sectors.

6.   The agreement covers basic services like voice telephony and fax, as well as satellite, mobile and private communications systems.

7.   The agreement covers basic services such as voice telephony, fax, telex as well as satellites, mobile and cellular activities and private communications services.