Western Development Commission Calls for 100% BB Coverage By 2007

Sponge Bob

and 100% by end 2007 as well, no shilly shallying Noel and no bull**** speeches for us in Galway either, just go do it !!!!!!!!

http://www.wdc.ie/documents/WDC-NDPSubmissionPdf.VersionFinal_001.pdf

Page 58 onwards.

4.3 Broadband Infrastructure
4.3.1 Why is broadband infrastructure important?
a
Information and knowledge are key drivers of modern economies. The availability of a
modern telecommunications infrastructure in the Western Region is essential to attracting
and sustaining investment and maintaining competitiveness. Quality telecommunications
infrastructure and services at an affordable price to customers are as crucial to regional
development today as rural electrification was in the 1940s and 1950s.
In 2005, Ireland’s broadband penetration rate was roughly one-quarter the average level in
competitor countries, and Ireland’s ranking fell by one place from 18th to 19th place out of
21 countries – a return to its 2003 position. The increase in broadband supply during 2005
was mainly via DSL technology (over existing copper telephone lines) but the services in
Ireland provide relatively low speeds compared to other European countries.
There is a spatial digital divide in the availability of broadband because the customer base
or spending power of consumers outside of larger centres is insufficient to attract private
investment. This ‘market failure’ has been recognised by government and various initiatives
have been put in place as part of the NDP 2000-2006 to facilitate broadband rollout.
Despite this, there remain major regional differences in access to broadband. The recent
Forfás Benchmarking Report shows that rural coverage from DSL is second lowest in the
EU-15 at just 38% of the population. Even though DSL has inherent distance limitations,
much more sparsely populated countries such as Sweden and Finland have levels of
coverage that are twice as high.
As part of its remit, the WDC has been active in highlighting the infrastructure deficits that
affect the region’s ability to attract inward investment and to grow indigenous enterprises.
Lack of access to broadband can force companies to relocate, hinder their expansion and
prevent them from availing of flexible work arrangements. Broadband is also a key enabler
of lifelong learning initiatives through the use of ICT-based teaching and distance learning.67
Households in the S&E region with internet access are more than twice as likely to have a
broadband connection as those in the BMW region.
65 These include the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) project to provide open access carrier neutral fibre networks in and
hhiiaround cities and towns, the County and Group Broadband Scheme (CGBS) for smaller centres and rural areas, the hhii
hhiSchools Broadband Initiative, various projects under the Clár Programme etc. The WDC was active in promoting the CGBS
hhiiin 2005.
66 The WDC provided an analysis of broadband issues in The State of the West (2001) and Telecommunications in the
hhiWestern Region (2002).
67 For instance, among the on-line courses currently being offered by FAS only two – Health and Safety and Apprenticeship –
do not require broadband. Each of the other course categories, including business, soft skills and personal development
hhiican only be availed of by those that have broadband connectivity.
68 Central Statistic Office: Information Society and Telecommunications 2005
59
4.3.2 What are the current issues with broadband infrastructure?
a
Inability to access broadband seriously affects the competitiveness of firms in the Western
Region, as well as its attractiveness as a location for business. Even where broadband is
available, business customers in particular experience difficulties with higher costs, the
quality of service such as the absence of service level agreements, lack of support for voice
over internet (VoIP), asymmetric services, and general unreliability. There is also a concern
as to whether DSL technology can deliver sufficient capacity over the longer-term.
The gap in DSL provision in smaller centres and in rural areas is not made up by the greater
availability of broadband based on other technology platforms. Various government
sponsored broadband initiatives, such as those funded under Clár and the CGBS are based
almost entirely on wireless or satellite technology. Experiences with such schemes to date
have given rise to a set of difficulties. These include:
- access to backhaul i.e. linkages to the national network;
- lack of competition resulting in high backhaul charges which are distance-dependent,
or based on minimum prices and quantities, thus putting more remote areas at a
cost disadvantage;
- technical issues with delivery e.g. siting of masts, line of sight for wireless systems,
high contention ratios etc;
- lack of competition among local suppliers and the reliability of some providers;
- difficulty of linking directly with the schools broadband programme;
- leadership and technical competence in communities;
- the cost of technical surveys.
Resolving these difficulties requires a concerted approach that addresses their causes
which are rooted variously in the market, the technical limitations of wireless and satellite
technology platforms, and the assumption that a basic utility as technically complex as
broadband telecommunications can be delivered on a partly community/voluntary basis.
4.3.3 How can the current issues be addressed?
a
The WDC believes that given the limited progress to date, the only realistic way of addressing
the digital spatial divide is to make a strategic commitment to100% broadband coverage
(as in Northern Ireland) and then proceed to put in place the technical means to deliver it
through private and public investment. The WDC believes that broadband should be seen
as a basic utility (similar to water and electricity). In this context, the amount of public
monies required to achieve full rollout can be seen, in comparative terms, as quite modest.
The cost of the broadband deficit, in terms of loss of regional competitiveness, the
effect on location decisions of firms and on the productivity of existing firms, and the
consequent negative impact on regional development, could potentially be
immeasurably greater.
Clearly, demand for services will drive private sector investment in broadband technologies
and services. There is a need to stimulate awareness among SMEs and residential users.
The WDC believes that demand stimulation should therefore be part of any broadband
delivery strategy.69 However, we must stress that there is considerable pent-up demand in
the Western Region in areas that currently do not have access. A fundamental factor in
stimulating demand is the provision of lucid and up to date information – such as maps and
impartial technical and market information for businesses and home users.
4.3.4 Proposed measures for broadband infrastructure
1. Government needs to take a leadership role by regarding broadband infrastructure
as a basic utility similar to energy, water or voice telephony, and by putting in place
a clear national strategy for universal access to high quality, affordable
broadband by end 2007. This should be based on a national goal of making
Ireland a leading knowledge society in world terms, and be set out in the NDP 2007-
2013.
2. Government should put in place the technical means to deliver 100% coverage
through a combination of public and private investment (already achieved in Northern
Ireland) using appropriate technology platforms.
3. The WDC considers it essential to optimise the use of infrastructure in state
ownership, particularly as a means of providing competitively priced backhaul for
MANs and wireless networks in rural areas.
4. The national strategy should target the needs of different market segments – large
businesses, SMEs, micro-businesses and domestic users. It should include both
shorter-term targets for first generation broadband services and provision for
migration to the progressively higher bandwidths.
5. Greater attention is needed to the role that on-line service delivery in the public
sector could play in improving PC literacy and driving demand. This role acquires a
new significance in the context of the government’s decentralisation programme.
Public sector procurement practices, and the delivery of government services –
including within the key health and education sectors – should also be part of the
national strategy for broadband provision.
6. To address the digital and spatial divide and stimulate demand, locally based ICT
initiatives which combine demonstrations, training and use of IT equipment and
would encourage adoption of ICT and demand for broadband by local firms and rural
businesses, and enable them to benefit from productivity gains from e-business and
e-commerce should be supported. Such initiatives will also address e-exclusion. To
maximise their versatility and penetration into rural areas, these could be based on a
well-equipped ‘mobile facility’ which could efficiently deliver demonstrations and skill
training and then move to another location.

eircomtribunal

I am fed up with more negative comments, which damage our international reputation.
We should be proud of our immense achievements. To celebrate the heavenly state of broadband in Ireland achieved through the wise actions of our leaders, regulators and the incumbent, we will shortly issue a commemorative stamp in partnership with North Korea. Such positive action will bring our country even further forward.
Noel Dempsey

zuma

Kim and Noel.....damnit its fantastic!

Honestly though what is our HIGHLY paid Comms Minister doing these days or would a Junior Minister be put in charge of communications as its not too important!

eircomtribunal

There's an article in the Irish Examiner today, about a conference speech of Pat O'Hara, who edited the Western Development Commission submission:

Lack of broadband coverage keeps rural areas in digital darkness
By Dan Buckley
MANY rural areas are being kept in digital darkness by being deprived of access to broadband telecommunications.
More than 25% of the Republic — mostly rural dwellers — is without broadband, while 100% of the North is enabled, a conference on rural development heard yesterday.
“Many areas have little chance of getting broadband and government should step in where there is clear market failure,” said Dr Patricia O’Hara, policy manager with the Western Development Commission.
“Some of our most innovative home-grown enterprises, and many of our most creative people involved in digital media are located in rural Ireland,” Dr O’Hara told the Irish Rural Link annual conference in Tullamore.
“We should cherish those who choose to create jobs and live in rural places in particular as there is a well documented decline in some of the primary industries such as farming and fishing.”

Dr O’Hara, who was a member of the Information Society Commission from 2001-2004, said: “Broadband providers admit that the market will never deliver to rural Ireland.
“Twenty-five% of the population, almost all rural dwellers, has little chance of getting a service because it is not profitable to supply them.
“While a number of schemes for rural areas have been introduced these have had a limited impact.
“Government now needs to commit to 100% coverage, using various technologies — something that has already happened in Northern Ireland.”
Dr O’Hara said areas without broadband “are often in the most attractive and beautiful locations in Ireland and online access is essential for tourism in these areas”.
She said lack of high-speed internet access “makes it virtually impossible to run a knowledge-based business or to telework from rural locations that look highly unlikely to get broadband any time soon”.
“Anyone who has tried to e-mail a large file, download a set of digital photographs or music, or shop online without broadband knows this.
“To position Ireland as a knowledge-based society and capitalise on the growth of home-grown successful ICT businesses, broadband must be seen as a basic utility, just like electricity and water, and not a privilege,.
“As the internet becomes the main means of accessing entertainment and a growing range of services, including education and health, those places where it is not available will be simply bypassed.”

Fully agree with her, albeit the assumption that more than 25% are without access to broadband is much too optimistic.
P.

trekkypj

Definately need more reports like this one.

More reports, more pressure, more resposne (hopefully)!

cgarvey

Normally I'd agree, but all the reports in the world don't appear to be changing anything. Still no pressure at all to get LLU sorted. Still throwing money at MANs without thinking backhaul. Still no accountability within ComReg, still down at the bottom of all "league" tables.. like is there any indication that DCMNR or the Government are taking it more seriously than, say, this time last year or the year before (I'd say there's less indication, if anything).

trekkypj

With an election coming up next year, this kind of negative publicity isn't helpful to those in power.

Perhaps the problem isn't that the powers that be aren't aware of the problem; they are. They just lack the will to resolve it. One thing I've noticed is that the Govt will do anything to avoid confrontation. Same goes for the regulators.

The question is, how do you sting them into action when all they will do is spend money on reports, inquiries and advisors?

Maybe the whole lack of broadband coverage and the failure of LLU could be made into something that the opposition parties would rally round and use it as something to throw at Bertie & co. If they managed to force them to do something decisive to resolve this problem, then maybe they'd get my vote, even though my confidance in politicians is low at best.

Other than that, I don't know. Sue Eircom in an anti-trust case? It is their dithering over LLU and exchange upgrades that is preventing the rollout of broadband nationwide, and stifling competition. Is there a case to answer?

byte

I wonder how much money the Govt has wasted on these reports and advisors etc?

That together with the money spent on GBS, they possibly could've put all that towards 100% coverage.