Cork broadband to double

De Rebel

Anybody with an ireland.com subscription?

The above intriguing heading appears on the front page of ireland.com today, at the end of the page, under the heading "technology"

I’m wondering if it is something useful or the arrival of the minister to cut the tape on the fibre ring.

dahamsta

I don't even need to look to tell you that it's the latter.

Anyone up for Muck's idea of hanging AP's off the EU signs?

adam

De Rebel

Originally posted by dahamsta
Anyone up for Muck's idea of hanging AP's off the EU signs?

It would certainly provide them with a permanent home, those EU signs seem to linger years after the projects are finished.

Urban Weigl

It could be the 20 jobs they are announcing in Mediasat, the guys who resell Israeli satellite internet in Ireland? And soon, all schools in Ireland will have Israeli satellite internet, courtesy of our nice government. Yay!

spongebob

Originally posted by dahamsta
I don't even need to look to tell you that it's the latter.

Tis the fibre ring alright Adam, well done. Ahern seesm to be hinting that Cork is wilfully 'behind' the rest of the country in some way, he's a cheeky bugger isnt he.

Anyone up for Muck's idea of hanging AP's off the EU signs?

Those EU / NDP signs have to be left there for 7 years , go for it.

M

De Rebel

This is the article in full, from the paper edition of the Irish Times, 28.02.2004

Cork Broadband demand likely to double

Barry O'Halloran

High prices and poor competition have limited the access to broadband in Cork, according to a new report. It predicts that, increased availability will boost demand for high-speed internet service from businesses in the Republic's second-biggest city.

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, yesterday switched on a 60km broadband network running through Cork city. The €12 million development is the first of the high-speed metropolitan networks the Government is planning to roll out at 19 centres around the State. The €65 million cost of the networks is being met through the National Development Plan ,and EU regional development funding.

At the same time, Mr Ahern launched a Cork Corporation commissioned report from PA Consulting, The Cork Information Technology and Telecommunications Study. It predicts that the availability of the new network, allied to falling prices, will lead to a doubling of demand for broadband from businesses in the city over the net.

According to a spokesman for Cork Corporation, the study states that, in comparison to five other European centres, Cork performed strongly in terms of internet penetration and Government agency promotion of information technology.

However in terms of broadband, PA Consulting says that, in common with the rest of the State, the rate of take-up in Cork has been very low. The firm's report warns that the Irish Broadband market is two to three years behind the rest of Europe.

The technology has been available here since April 2002. The report states that, during the 12 months after that date, broadband prices were high. It blames this on the fact that there was only one provided with little real competition from alternative providers and structures.

Speaking after the launch of the Cork network, Mr Ahern said that recent price cuts had boosted the number of digital subscriber line (DSL) broadband users to 32,000. He added that the latest figures also show that 50,000 people have availed of flat rate internet access, which became available here last year.

Mr Ahern said that the Government would establish a management services entity in the coming weeks to operate the country's 19 metropolitan area networks. The ESB and Esat BT are also developing the (sic) broadband networks, while Eircom is committed to extending its existing network. Smart telecom has signed up as the Cork MAN's first customer

The article is accompanied by a photo of Dermot Ahearn, with the caption "Communications Minister Mr Ahern: switched on the network"

daveyjoe

ENN.ie also did a story on it
http://www.enn.ie/frontpage/news-9396610.html