Eircom Broadband rollout gathers zzZZ

Upstream

As part of the national broadband scheme, I think eircom were meant to lay their cards on the table and say which exchanges were going to get broadband and which weren't.


Some stats gathered from the eircom site, broadbandatoz.ie/

Broadband enabled exchanges 897 76%
To be enabled by end of 2009 46 4%
No current plans 234 20%

Exchanges enabled per month for the past year
Jun-10 17
May-10 6
Apr-10 0
Mar-10 4
Feb-10 3
Jan-10 5
Dec-09 18
Nov-09 13
Oct-09 11
Sep-09 6
Aug-09 2
Jul-09 11

Avg 8


So at this rate of going, we might have all the remaining planned upgrades that were due by the end of 2009 completed by the end of 2010...
And another two and a half years if they were to work their way through the rest of the exchanges that they have no current plans to upgrade.:(

I suspect they're making almost as much money on dialup charges, as they would if they enabled an exchange before a competitor entered the area. Why else would it take so long to do all the exchanges?

I know they managed to enable all the exchanges in Northern Ireland years ago (with a better broadband scheme...), although they do have a higher population density. But what can be done here to get finally get basic broadband to the rural areas?

Is there any chance of Comreg abolishing dialup charges or pricing dual line ISDNs (yes I know its 2010;)) at a lower rate to broadband, as a means of focusing eircoms attention on upgrading the remaining exchanges?

oscarBravo

Upstream wrote: »

Is there any chance of Comreg abolishing dialup charges or pricing dual line ISDNs (yes I know its 2010;)) at a lower rate to broadband, as a means of focusing eircoms attention on upgrading the remaining exchanges?

Nope.

Upstream

oscarBravo wrote: »

Nope.

They'll probably say something like you can prise that dialup revenue from my cold, dead (or bankrupt) hands.

Edit, just saw the points about low density remote populations in the Finland makes broadband a 'legal right' thread. Oh well, no excuses there then.

It would be a big improvement if everyone had access to "'Bebo and Facebook' broadband." It's very hard to keep a PC updated, or do anything on the net without access to at least 512Kbps. But without eircom getting all our exchanges enabled, I can't see everyone getting at least this level of service. They seem to be pushing on with "Next Gen" and leaving those on dialup behind.

I'd rather they gave everyone DSL and then went for for FTTH, but I can only dream...

Sponge Bob

I cannot ever see them doing all of the 300 exchanges with no DSL but they could probably be persuaded to review 100 of them. Here is an ( out of date ) list of the smallest 500 exchanges in the country together with number of lines.

The smallest 500 exchanges at this time ( c 5 years ago) had 500 lines or less. Most are smaller now as people abandoned land lines. Some of these have DSL of course but the 300 exchanges with no DSL installed or planned generally have 400 lines or less.

COLDWINTERS 1
GLENCREE 3
KILBRIDE 3
KILMAINHAM WOOD 3
POLLAGH 4
PUNCHESTOWN 4
RINGASKIDDY PORT 11
KNOCKFERRY 12
PEAMOUNT LANE 12
INCHYDONEY 16
HEWLETT-PACKARD 20
KILSHARVAN 25
DUBBER 29
CITYWEST 30
MAYNOOTH BUSINESS CA 30
BILBOA 31
DUBLIN AIRPORT 32
CLONSKEAGH 34
LOUGHBOY 35
ARDCLOUGH 37
ARDREW 39
SHANBALLY 40
ROBINSTOWN 41
KILLEA 45
CHERRYVILLE 48
TEMPLEOWEN 49
KILLENARD 50
DUNDERRY 51
CLONBUR 55
CONNA 59
CLASHMORE 61
NAUL 64
COILL DUBH 83
MOUNTHAWK 83
CLARE ISLAND 86
MODELFARM RD 87
ALLENWOOD 93
BUNNANADDAN 94
KNOCK AIRPORT 94
IBMSITE 97
CAPE CLEAR 100
MOYNE CROSS 100
CLONKEEN 101
LUGGACURREN 101
CLONAKILTY WEST 105
FARMERS CROSS 107
KILMEAGE 107
CURRAHEEN RD 109
DROGHEDA AEH 109
GLENFARNE 109
CAPPOGE BUS PK 110
LISRONAGH 110
ARDGROOM 112
GLANN 112
RERRIN 115
INTEL 124
MAAM 124
INISHMAAN 125
CARNMORE 129
INISBOFIN 129
LEABEG 130
DOONAHA 134
CRAGGAGH 135
KELLS 135
LYRE 139
MALLOW AEH YARD 141
AUGHACASHEL 142
INISHERE 144
COOLBAWN 145
RECESS 149
CALRY 150
LABASHEEDA 150
CRINKILL 151
BALLINTUBBERT 155
LOSKERAN 156
BALLINAGAR 157
BEECHGROVE 157
ROSSINVER 157
OLDTOWN 158
TOGHER 158
RATHMORE 159
KILMEEDY 161
INCH 162
KILTYCLOGHER 163
NEWHALL BUS PK 163
CARRON 164
TUOSIST 167
CREGMORE 169
SHANAHOE 169
CLOUGH 170
DONOHILL 174
GLENCAR 176
HOLLYFORD 176
CARRIGANIMMY 180
GLENAMOY 180
LAURAGH 181
GLENROE 182
REARCROSS 182
MARTINSTOWN 183
KNOCKRAHA 184
LISMACAFFREY 184
MEANUS 184
HILL OF DOWN 185
CHURCHTOWN 186
GARRANARD 187
KILKERRIN 189
TUBRID 189
BUTLERS BRIDGE 190
CLOONAGH 192
PORTMAGEE 192
NEWCASTLE 193
KNOCK 195
ATTYMASS 196
HODSONS BAY 197
OGONNELLOE 198
KILLADOON 199
BRACKNAGH 200
COLLINS LANE 200
ARDCRONEY 203
GURTEEN 203
HORSELEAP 203
DOOLEEG 204
SALLYBROOK 204
TOOREEN 205
BLACKWATER BRIDGE 208
ANNAYALLA 209
ROSSNOWLAGH 209
LINSFORT 210
CASHEL 211
FIVE ALLEY 212
MILLTOWNPASS 212
LEENANE 214
REDCROSS 214
MEELIN 216
ROCKCHAPEL 217
ARAGLIN 219
BALLYMACKEY 219
CORK AIRPORT 220
GREENOGE 220
NARRAGHMORE 222
BALLYMACAHILL CROSS 223
CAHERAGH 223
WALSH ISLAND 223
BINGHAMSTOWN 226
KNOCKADERRY 226
MAUGHEROW 226
CLONBANIN CROSS 228
COOLANEY 228
MUCKROSS 228
AHERLOW 230
KILMACANOGUE 230
LONGWOOD 231
BALLYCROY 232
EFFIN 233
BALLYMACARBRY 235
DROMIN 235
BWEENG 237
TEMPLEMARTIN 237
RATHCABBIN 238
FARMLEIGH 239
LYRACROMPANE 240
ARDATTIN 242
BALLYFIN 243
COOLCARRIGAN 243
PARTREE 244
WOODLAWN 244
CLARECASTLE 246
BALLACOLLA 247
BLACKSOD 247
ATHGARVAN 248
FORDSTOWN 251
CLONBULLOGUE 253
LEIGHLINBRIDGE 253
BUNRATTY 254
FEENAGH 254
NEWCASTLE VILLAGE 255
TULLOGHER 255
KILCOMMON 257
RYLANE 257
DRANGAN 258
MACROOM WEST 258
COOLBOY 259
KILLERISK AEH 259
JOHNSWELL 261
BEHAGH 266
GRANAGH 267
LAURENCETOWN 268
WOLFHILL 268
MURRISK 269
ROSSPORT 272
BALLINGARRY 273
ERRILL 273
ROSEMOUNT 273
BUNNACURRY 277
CULLEN 277
FOUR ROADS 277
ADRIGOLE 279
LEITRIM VILLAGE 279
RATHOWEN 279
CULLAHILL 280
FYBAGH 280
DRINAGH 283
SWANLINBAR 284
ARIGNA 286
CLOGHANE 287
FINTOWN 287
BALLAGH 288
PETTIGO 288
ROCKMOUNT 289
ADELAIDE ROAD 290
CAHER 290
SHANNONBRIDGE 290
MOUNTHAWK 292
KILCONNELL 293
MILFORD 293
CASTLEJORDAN 295
MOONE 295
BALLYMOUNT 296
GLENEELY 297
KILFENORA 297
BALLINDERRY 298
COOLKENNO 298
LORRHA 299
MUCKLAGH 300
CARROWMORELACKEN 304
TEMPLETUOHY 304
SCOTSHOUSE 305
COON 306
KILBRIDE 306
NEWBRIDGE 306
TOURNAFULLA 306
ASDEE 308
KILDANGAN 309
CARRAGH 310
ROUNDSTONE 310
KILNAMARTYRA 313
ALLIHIES 315
DRUMKEEN 315
THE ROWER 315
ARRANMORE 317
KILLERIG CROSS 317
BALLINAFAD 318
BALLYAGRAN 318
FINEA 318
TIMAHOE 319
CAMP 320
KILCROHANE 320
VENTRY 320
MULRANY 322
RUSHBROOKE 322
TEMPLEGLANTINE 323
FREEMOUNT 324
KILMEAD 325
LAVAGH 326
KILBRECK 329
KILTORMER 329
KILMORE 330
BALLINGEARY 331
BALLYHAHILL 332
CARLANSTOWN 332
READYPENNY 333
TOBERELATAN 334
BANGOR ERRIS 338
JOHNSTOWN 340
KILLINADRISH 341
MONAMOLIN 341
TEMPLEDERRY 341
BALLYGORMAN 343
BRANNOCKSTOWN 343
INCHIGEELAGH 343
GORTNAGOWNA 344
KILDIMO 345
LISSELTON 345
REDHILLS 347
URLAUR 347
EDMONSTOWN 348
NEWTOWNGORE 348
AYLE 349
FOURMILEHOUSE 349
BERNEY'S CROSS 350
MYSHALL 350
BOHERLAHAN 351
EASTPOINT 351
FEAKLE 351
KERRYKEEL 352
RATHOE 352
BARNATRA 353
ROSMUC 353
BALLYHOOLEY 354
MULLENNAGLOUGH 355
AUGHRIM 357
BALLYTORE 358
NEWTOWNCASHEL 358
EMLY 359
HERBERTSTOWN 359
TULSK 359
BLACKLION 361
CURRAGHBOY 361
DUNGOURNEY 361
BALLINAKILL 362
CREGGS 362
CLEGGAN 363
COLBINSTOWN 363
TOURMAKEADY 363
BEKAN CROSS 364
LISCARNEY 364
BROADFORD 367
COOLRAIN 367
CLOGHAN 369
CASTLETOWNSHEND 370
ARDFIELD 371
CROGHAN 371
GALBALLY 371
NEW INN 371
BALLYVAUGHAN 372
CASTLEPLUNKETT 372
MALIN 372
BIRDHILL 373
CORK AIRPORT IND EST 373
TAUGHMACONNELL 373
NEWCESTOWN 374
STRADBALLY 375
ROSENALLIS 376
VALENTIA ISLAND 376
GEESALA 377
KILGARVAN 377
GLENEALY 378
COOTEHALL 380
DUAGH 381
FINUGE 381
LETTERFRACK 381
BALLYNACARGY 382
GRANGE 382
KILCARN 382
ARDAGH 383
MOYVORE 384
BANTEER 385
KNOCKMORE 385
BALLYFORAN 386
RAHEY CROSS 387
GLENCOLUMBKILLE 390
NARIN 391
EYERIES 394
LETTERMACAWARD 394
CUFFESGRANGE 396
SHILLELAGH 396
KEEL 397
KINCASSLAGH 397
CROSSAKIEL 398
BALLINSKELLIGS 399
CARNAROSS 399
AGHANCON 400
BALLYCONDON 400
BURTONPORT 400
CLONDRA 400
GLASSLOUGH 400
TULLYVIN 400
LATTIN 401
TOGHER 402
DRUMKEERAN 403
TUBBER 403
DONAMON 405
KILRONAN 405
BALLINCURRIG 407
BROADFORD 407
TOOMEVARA 408
BURNFORT 409
BALLICKMOYLER 410
BALLYDANGAN 411
COLPE CROSS 417
KILCONLY 418
INISTIOGE 419
MOYNALTY 419
BONMAHON 420
KINLOUGH 420
CAHERDANIEL 421
CLOONFAD 421
INAGH 421
BALLINAMULT 422
CASTLEMAHON 422
MINANE BRIDGE 422
KINNITY 423
MOYNE 425
BALLYDAVID 426
DOONBEG 426
FOULKSMILLS 426
MONEYGALL 427
BROOMFIELD 429
EYRECOURT 429
KILLEIGH 430
BAWNBOY 431
BELCARRA 431
KILDALKEY 431
MOUNTNUGENT 431
RING 434
SCARTAGLIN 434
ANNASCAUL 437
TARELTON 438
BARNTOWN 439
MILFORD 439
KENAGH 440
BALLINAHOWEN 441
CROOKEDWOOD 441
CAPPAGH 442
DRUMSNA 442
KNOCKNAGOSHEL 442
NEW INN 443
CLONMELLON 444
DOWRA 444
KILKISHEN 444
KILRICKLE 445
MOUNT BOLUS 445
CARRIGANS 446
COORACLARE 446
GURTNAHOE 446
GLENVILLE 447
PAULSTOWN 447
MENLOUGH 448
ROSSOULTY 449
HOLLYMOUNT 450
BALLYCONNEELY 451
BALLYMACODA 451
CAPPAWHITE 451
CASTLEBRIDGE 451
ADAMSTOWN 456
AUGHNACLIFFE 456
BALLYCUMBER 457
ATHLEAGUE 458
LISSYCASEY 458
THE HEATH 459
LOBINSTOWN 460
BALLYHEAN 461
MAGENEY 461
BOHOLA 462
KEALKILL 462
WILLIAMSTOWN 462
FEDAMORE 463
MULTYFARNHAM 463
ANABLAHA 464
CARNA 464
CLOUGHJORDAN 464
BALLYDUFF 465
BALLYNOE 465
NEWTOWNSHANDRUM 465
BERRINGS 466
BONNICONLON 469
BALLYMORE 472
RATHGORMACK 472
TIERMACLANE 473
CASTLEBLAKENEY 474
OMEATH 474
ABBEYKNOCKMOY 475
LAHERDANE 475
KILBRITTAIN 476
BALLYGLASS 477
SILVERMINES 477
GOOLDS CROSS 478
MILTOWN 478
BALLYCASTLE 479
DROMARD 481
DUNCORMICK 481
KILMOGANNY 481
COLEHILL 483
LEMYBRIEN 483
RAHAN 483
STRANOODEN 483
TULLY CROSS 484
BROADFORD 485
KILTOOM 485
CRUSHEEN 486
FENAGH 487
KILLIMOR 487
CALVERSTOWN 488
CLONASLEE 488
BALLINGARRY 489
CORNAFULLA 490
CLOGHEEN 491
CLONLARA 491
ROSSES POINT 491
CORNAMONA 492
WHITEGATE 492
STAMULLIN 493
VALLEYMOUNT 493
HOLLYFORT 494
ACLARE 497
BALLINACLASHET 499
CLOONE 499
ROCKCORRY 500

Upstream

Hi Sponge Bob,

Thanks for that list, I had a look at it and it looks like size isn't the only consideration, quite a few of the smaller exchanges are enabled. I suppose it comes down to competition and geography too. Attached is your list, with the status of each exchange beside it.

I was actually wondering what the status of Rockcorry was, I see it's last on the list, so it must not be too small, so there's some hope of it being done in the near future.

Do eircom have teams of people who's job it is to go round enabling exchanges, or is it contracted out? The number done per month seems to vary a lot.

Sponge Bob

What you gotta remember is that eircom are completing a program announced in March 2007 and that will take them until the end of 2010 at the recent announcement rates.

They have announced nothing since and that poxy NBS put them in a sulk.

I feel that a plan to do the largest 100 of the non enabled could possibly be poked out of them but their priority now is a prepack structured bankruptcy not enabling further exchanges or indeed reach extension off existing exchanges which would get them more customers than enabling the last 200 exchanges.

What exactly do you want them to do here...apart from get the finger out on the current program ... obviously ??

Sponge Bob

eircoms other large rural project in 2008/2009 has been installing Tetra for the ER sector , naturally the dopes in charge of planining did not make them DSL upgrade the exchanges where this gear is located.

In Mayo they installed the Tetra Gear at these exchanges where they may be persuaded to now install DSL having done that.

Killadoon
Geesala

In Kerry

Annascaul
Glencar

In Galway

Cashel
Recess

In Clare

Rahy ( Rahey) Cross
Behagh

etc

These are not exhaustive but indicate where another program may have resulted in sufficient extra capacity being installed to warrant a DSL install in the exchange and which was not the case in March 2007. This is one way to close the gap.

lucernarian

I noticed some discrepancies in that list. I'm pretty sure there's more than 3 lines working in Kilmainhamwood in Co. Meath for example. Other exchanges are RSUs which are already fibre-fed and will probably have other lines and estates connected to them as time goes on (e.g. The Naul).

Exchanges which have "less than 300" lines on that list are more likely to see no DSL rollout but it's definitely not an iron rule of thumb as Upstream's helpful list has highlighted.

trekkypj

Cheers muchly for the spreadsheet. Now I have a rough idea how many lines are connected to our exchange.

rob808

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I noticed some discrepancies in that list. I'm pretty sure there's more than 3 lines working in Kilmainhamwood in Co. Meath for example. Other exchanges are RSUs which are already fibre-fed and will probably have other lines and estates connected to them as time goes on (e.g. The Naul).

Exchanges which have "less than 300" lines on that list are more likely to see no DSL rollout but it's definitely not an iron rule of thumb as Upstream's helpful list has highlighted.

Yea can only see eircom enabling towns with 300 lines or more the rest be stuck on 3G because i dont think eircom has the money to spend on less lines were they would get very little money from them,compared to what the money Eircom would spend putting up these exchanges.The sad truth is there will always be place stuck on wireless broadband because of the location they live in. Like i would love to get upc broadband instead of DSL. When LTE come out at least they have a better connection maybe even better than some people DSL lines.

Upstream

Sponge Bob wrote: »

What exactly do you want them to do here...apart from get the finger out on the current program ... obviously ??

Good question, I suppose I was just wondering what the chances were of 99% of people in the country getting access to proper basic broadband.
Would eircom try to compete in the areas now served by 3 by rolling out dsl.

I still can't understand why the national broadband scheme was set up in the way that it was.
Did the minister think wireless broadband is greener, (surely he wasn't getting advice that it was better or faster) or had he some other reason for setting up the scheme to favour mobile broadband (midband)?
A way of introducing more competition perhaps? I can understand eircom sulking after they didn't get it, if this was the case.
How much would enablling the remaining exchanges and putting in reach extenders cost compared to the scheme as it is now?



By the way, attached is a list of all the eircom echanges and their status at the start of this month, base on the info provided on broadbandatoz.

I think the list of exchanges by size that you posted didn't actually include the number of enabled lines in each exchange, the number seemed to be the position of the exchange on the list, but still useful though.

watty

His predecessor's scheme. He just signed the contract for the lower price of the last two standing...

1) Eircom mostly using Meteor Mobile, plus properly priced Satellite and some DSL repeaters etc

2) 3, using 3 Mobile and really cheap satellite service that still doesn't exist.

clohamon

Upstream wrote: »

I still can't understand why the national broadband scheme was set up in the way that it was.
Did the minister think wireless broadband is greener, (surely he wasn't getting advice that it was better or faster) or had he some other reason for setting up the scheme to favour mobile broadband (midband)?
A way of introducing more competition perhaps? I can understand eircom sulking after they didn't get it, if this was the case.

It is hard to know what advice he was getting. The Department view is that 2Mbs is plenty for rural ireland. As you can see below the technical merit of the scheme (ie whether it worked) was a secondary consideration (BT retired earlier from the race on the grounds that there was not enough spectrum to deliver an acceptable service).
As "competition" was the declared strategy of the department it would have been impossible to award the contract to Eircom. Eircom must have known that, so I doubt they're sulking. That left H3GI.
At the end of 2008 H3GI accounts show they still had a €90M liability associated with their existing license obligations. €80M will be quite a help. The department even gave them an advance of €15M before the contract was signed.

The tender scoring system (for what its worth) was


Criteria Weighting

1. Financial & Commercial 35%
2. Programme & Rollout 25%
3. Technical 25%
4. Customer Service 15%

The NBS is not just cheap. The €50M (from the Irish Government) gives a huge statistical hit. By using EDs as a grid, the EU target of '100% "broadband" cover' will be claimed. In fact its being claimed already even though the scheme will be late and clearly not broadband.