Ahern in bid to beat telecoms threat to economy

dahamsta · 19-01-2002 5:04pm #1

http://www.unison.ie/stories.php3?ca=9&si=673936&issue_id=6744

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has warned senior civil servants that Ireland could slip into the second rank of international economies if it does not speed up the opening of advanced telecommunications around the country.

Mr Ahern said Ireland is lagging behind other countries in its development of broadband telecoms connections countrywide.

And he issued a stark warning that the official strategy so far has "not taken us where we want to be".

A hard hitting memo seen by the Irish Independent, outlines how Mr Ahern, together with Public Enterprise Minister Mary O'Rourke, plans to make this issue a key priority in the future.

The position paper describes the problems that have beset Ireland's broadband strategy. It underlines that not enough town and cities around the country are connected to broadband, which provides high speed telecommunications cables enabling better phone, internet and e-commerce services.

Signalling a review of official strategy on the vital area, Mr Ahern warns that other countries are moving ahead of us in this area, with Ireland coming in 25th out of 30 OECD countries in a recent survey on access to broadband. EU candidate countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic scored higher.

The paper says that "if we get this right we can be in the top three or four information led economies for the next decade.

"Conversely, if we do not achieve local connectivity we will slip into the second rank of economies," the paper warned.

The unpublished document describes how Mr Ahern has been "banging heads together between the public and private sectors on this issue."

He has begun an interdepartmental review of strategy to ensure the delivery of a telecoms broadband infrastructure nationwide.

The paper describes a number of central points to the Government's current thinking.

It says: "We have international connectivity, and we have a developing national and regional backbone. We now need to go to the next step and connect locally.

"The market has not delivered a local connectivity. In a changed environment, a new road map is needed," the note urged.

Richard Curran Business Editor

nahdoic · 19-01-2002 5:17pm

wow ... this is great. So much emphasis from the government on developing real broadband in the country for use by normal people and businesses. *finally* the message is getting through

you can really sense things speeding up now in general

... greater degree of urgency from the government. I guess it could be just because an election is coming up though ... either way it's still great.

ando · 19-01-2002 5:57pm

Its funny to see the government get off their arses and actually do something when there's some pressure on them. EG, last week Microsoft Ireland slagged off the government about the state of the irish broadband network... 1 week later and we're getting reports left right and centre about the government getting into action

ando · 19-01-2002 6:44pm

Mr Ahern warns that other countries are moving ahead of us in this area, with Ireland coming in 25th out of 30 OECD countries in a recent survey

just noticed, but Ireland actually came 27th, not 25th ?

MarcusGarvey · 19-01-2002 7:13pm

Infacta , gift.

(Today FM reference )

Fergus · 19-01-2002 7:22pm

just noticed, but Ireland actually came 27th, not 25th ?

27th out of 30. See page 8 of OECD report here

Coyote · 19-01-2002 7:35pm

You think that is funney
I was in west of China and they had ADSL there 5 months ago
Ireland is a joke and all this is a press release from the goverment to try and save face over what microsoft said last week. works out very nice for them they get to say whey want and what makes them look good but it's not a real statemt from the goverment, so they are not see to be saying Irelands net comms sucks to the world

Moriarty · 19-01-2002 7:43pm

Im shocked, amazed and pleasently surprised :eek: It seems like they finally listened to us

First time ive seen any government document specifially mention the lack of local access to the backbone in Ireland. I dont think that can be over-emphasised. It looks like they have finally realised what one of the major problems is.

What we need now is a follow up on this. Perhaps the committe should try to organise another meeting with Mary O'Rourke, following the news of the comm's bill being pushed forward, and now this.

Fergus · 19-01-2002 7:47pm

I have to say I do view it with a bit of skepticism. The stuff in the memo sounds terribly similar to what the govt's own advisory committee pointed out to them in 1998. And O'Rourke has been going on about increasing the power of the regulator (Comms Bill) for over two and half years.

Other parties take note.

NeilF · 19-01-2002 7:49pm

The unpublished document describes how Mr Ahern has been "banging heads together between the public and private sectors on this issue."

Surely Mr Harran?

pete · 19-01-2002 8:05pm

Originally posted by Moriarty

First time ive seen any government document specifially mention the lack of local access to the backbone in Ireland.

But what definition of "local access" is to apply?

Industrial parks? Commercial? Residential?

Moriarty · 19-01-2002 8:48pm

Originally posted by pete
But what definition of "local access" is to apply?
Industrial parks? Commercial? Residential?

If i read it right..

It underlines that not enough town and cities around the country are connected to broadband, which provides high speed telecommunications cables enabling better phone, internet and e-commerce services

Which implies the use of xDSL and Cable Modems. Possibly.

[Bugger, I'm always doing that. Sorry Moriarty. - adam]

dahamsta · 19-01-2002 8:58pm

What Fergus said.

I'm not going to get into the content of the article, because questioning the Taoiseach and the Independent's motives in this matter would be self-defeating. However we do need to make our position on the situation clear to the Department of the Taoiseach and everyone else involved. As I've said time and time again, there is a fundamenal mistunderstanding inside the Government of the needs and wants of it's citizens, and the businesses the Government should be supporting. This article, and the memo is purports to represent, doesn't seem to demonstrate that they have corrected this misunderstanding.

adam

dahamsta · 19-01-2002 9:02pm

Which implies the use of xDSL and Cable Modems. Possibly.

My point exactly. It's very likely that the Taoiseach is referring to leased lines, which will not change the current situation for small businesses and consumers one jot. Note that there is nothing remotely near addressing the FRIACO problem in this article either.

adam

Moriarty · 19-01-2002 9:08pm

Originally posted by dahamsta
My point exactly. It's very likely that the Taoiseach is referring to leased lines, which will not change the current situation for small businesses and consumers one jot. Note that there is nothing remotely near addressing the FRIACO problem in this article either.
adam

Which could very possibly be true. Comfirmation really needs to be looked for regarding this, although if its a leak its unlikely anyone will comment. Perhaps we should look for a meeting with the taoiseach himself. The gov seem to be intrested in getting things moving, but perhaps they just dont understand / are not being told what needs doing. It may be a matter of informing them exactly what is needed, eg friaco, full unbundling under competitive pricing etc.

Boston · 19-01-2002 9:10pm

still wont make me vote for him. its bull.

Btw see that service charges went up 8%, that the likes of eircom and ntl, along with others.

cants wait till i see nexts years, when the prise of broadband is included

dahamsta · 19-01-2002 9:21pm

still wont make me vote for him.

LOL. Same here. Although I'm not particularly keen on their party leader, I think FG would be much more progressive on comms. Ivan Yates' policy document from 2000 covers pretty much everything we're concerned with. If they implemented those policies - it's not a given they would have, of course - we wouldn't be in the position we find ourselves in now. The Taoiseach wouldn't need to be "ticking off" anyone.

DISCLAIMER: This is not the official view of IrelandOffline, just a personal comment.

adam

Boston · 19-01-2002 9:25pm

hmm, look at it this way, they sold eircom

b20uvkft6m5xwg · 19-01-2002 10:42pm

http://act.iol.ie

Jees I thought I was about to visit Andrew Conlan Trant's homepage. Bit dissappointed actually:( I was hoping there would be a guestbook.....heeehheeeee;)

saik · 20-01-2002 1:17am

quote: Mr Ahern said Ireland is lagging

bertie is in with the online gaming massev

imo: this is all pre election bull****e

Dustaz · 20-01-2002 6:36am

Originally posted by saik
quote: Mr Ahern said Ireland is lagging

bertie is in with the online gaming massev

GG

One thing is for sure, whether this is pre-election bull**** or not, at least its pre-election bull**** that interests us. I dont remember this sort of stuff coming up before the last election.

Stonemason · 20-01-2002 8:22am

Even if it is bull at least it shows there are enough people like us (internet user that vote)For them to try and get us on their side.Which is a good sign.

Stone

pencil · 20-01-2002 2:54pm

I like the sound of the 'leak' but I've been waiting for an always on connection since 1998, so like you all, I've heard it all before!

I'm in Mr. Ahern's constituency (D7) and I'm hoping he comes canvassing, he will be told that the 2 votes in my house will NOT be going his way if I still do not have a broadband connection on the date of the election.

I know that Ireland offline does not want to associate itself with an particular party but:

Why not have a count (poll on this forum?) to see how many votes will be connected to this issue? - this could then be 'leaked' to the government & media.

OT: (Will also have something to say about the new Refuse tax - will gladly pay it if it pays for a 'true' recycling scheme (like Galway Citys), paying an for the privilege of using wheelie bins does not cut it!)

nahdoic · 20-01-2002 3:27pm

if i have a broadband or flat rate connection before the election FF has my vote for definite.

Fergus · 20-01-2002 3:27pm

Originally posted by pencil
Why not have a count (poll on this forum?) to see how many votes will be connected to this issue?

Umm.. even more effectively.. how many votes in constituencies where Sinn Fein are contenders.

Bard · 20-01-2002 4:00pm

Originally posted by nahdoic
if i have a broadband or flat rate connection before the election FF has my vote for definite.

AGREED... assuming that FF/the Gov't have been instrumental in bringing such a situation about, of course...

Moriarty · 20-01-2002 5:04pm

Originally posted by Fergus
Umm.. even more effectively.. how many votes in constituencies where Sinn Fein are contenders.

Id sooner vote to outlaw the net than to place my vote for sinn fein. If they had their way, the country would be in even more of a shambles than it is at present.

Boston · 20-01-2002 5:15pm

i thought about voting sinn fein, and i think i will, just to piss of bertie, same reason i voted no to nice

dahamsta · 20-01-2002 5:20pm

No disrespect folks, but let's not go too far down the "my party is better/worse than yours" path. Pledge your vote to whoever delivers, sure, discuss the pros and cons when it comes to communications issues, oh yeah, but try and stay on-topic please.

Thanks,
adam

o_donnel_abu · 20-01-2002 7:35pm

Originally posted by dahamsta
No disrespect folks, but let's not go too far down the "my party is better/worse than yours" path.

Agree entirely.

Alignment with any one party would destroy IOFFL quicker than anything else I can think of.

What we have to do is get all the parties interested in this.

Martin

Boston · 20-01-2002 7:39pm

Including socialist youth ha

Ahern in bid to beat telecoms threat to economy

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