IOFFL at this years O2DMC

Dangger

Full details available here.

IrelandOffline will be speaking at this years O2 Digital Media Conference, May 1st 2003, UCD, Dublin.

I'll be on the telcommunications & infrastructure panel along with:

Charlie Ardagh: Leap BB
Tommy McCabe: IBEC

Karlin Lillington will be charing the panel.

The afternoon will be divided into three open panel discussions. The focus will be an examination of the existing state of three key sectors within digital media followed by a highly interactive and engaging discussion. Each panel session is targeted to last 60 minutes with the objective to agree a set of
recommendations which will be subsequently presented to relevant government departments, State agencies and other key stakeholders in each of the relevant sectors. Representatives from Esat BT and Eircom will also be present.

Last years conference report (at which IOFFL also spoke) is available here.

The findings of the telco panel from last year are summarised as follows:

Workshop Findings from 2002 O2DMC
Workshop Findings from 2002 O2DMC
No flat rate service of affordable broadband is available to Irish consumers.
Internet penetration is stalled at 33%. The ODTR’s perceived lack of powers at that time and the delay in the Telecommunications Bill combined with
non-implementation of Forfas recommendations contribute to Ireland’s deficiency in broadband access.
It was proposed that an independent local access authority (Management Services Entity) is established to act as an impartial wholesaler and ensure access throughout every region in Ireland. Government intervention could result in DSL capacity being sold at cost to all providers, local tele-hotels adjacent to the Eircom nodes and metropolitan rings for business parks.
A stable, predictable regulatory environment is necessary to allow
telecommunications companies to make plans and develop their services.
Significant demand exists for a fairly priced high quality broadband service. Delegates considered €30 per month to be an acceptable rate for broadband. Eircom and NTL maintained it costs more to provide a high quality service.
The workshop called for an appointment of an E Minister.

What has happened since last year?
We have seen a considerable change within ComReg, the replacement body for the ODTR. They have reacted quickly to the ministerial directive for flat rate access which was issued in December.
Flat rate wholesale rates have now been agreed. They are among the lowest in Europe at €12.71 a port.
A retail offering will be made available by June 25th 2003.
Broadband is now rolling out but at snail pace. Eircom recently announced their intention to cut cost of ADSL by 50% which would see a service for €55 per month. A survey commissioned by the ODTR and conducted by Ovum stated that the demand for ADSL will triple once it is below €45.
While some Irish towns can now be described as “broadband enabled” or “soon to be broadband enabled”, at times the fibre is already in the ground and is unlit - open access is still required to this fibre. This is being addressed through the government’s New Connections Plan.
The centrepiece of the New Connections Plan is how the proposed Management Services Entity will operate. Should Eircom or Esat be allowed to tender for this? Do local authorities want to become telecommunications agencies? The great hope for the New Connections Plan is what it could do for wireless ISPs, and smaller “Mom and Pop” ISPs. With open access to this fibre and wireless technologies the great barrier of control to the last mile of copper can be obliterated.