Brussels, 28/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission authorised the acquisition of the Irish telecommunications operator Esat by the British British Telecoms. The Commission noted that this operation does not pose any problems for competition in general in the Irish market to the extent where it only reinforces BT against to old monopoly Eircom who remains, by far, the most powerful operator. The Commission also feels that the rapid development of Internet access enables them to exclude all risks of creating a duopolistic domination in the Irish market. The existence of exclusive distribution contracts for the products made by Global one, Concert and Infonet would on the other hand pose a problem. To answer the Commission's fears, the two companies have accepted to renounce the exclusiveness for the distribution of Global One and to not renew their contract with Infonet.