In any case he loaded Esat up with debt and got 550, 000 customers in three years.

FORBES: Babble Rouser

Shortly after unloading Esat, O'Brien spotted a 3-inch-square ad in the Financial Times inviting bids for a mobile license in Jamaica.

FORBES: Babble Rouser

He dipped into the cell phone business in 1995 when he won a license in Ireland to set up a mobile phone network, Esat Telecom.

FORBES: Babble Rouser