Telecom Éireann (, meaning "Telecommunications of Ireland") was a state-owned telecommunications company in Ireland from 1983 to 1999. Prior to then a telephone and postal service was provided by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs (known as "P and T"), as part of the civil service. Telecom Éireann was established by the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983; its full formal title was Bord Telecom Éireann - the Irish Telecommunications Board. The name may be translated as "Telecom Ireland". In 1999 the company was privatised and renamed as eircom.