Irish Government Reveals US$290-mil. "Broadband for All" Plan

The Irish government has announced a new 223-million-euro (US$290 million) plan to bring broadband to all parts of the state, by September next year. Communications Minister Eamon Ryan said a contract had been agreed with 3 Ireland to deliver high-speed internet to the remaining 10% of the population currently without cover. 3 Ireland has committed to the challenging 21-month deadline, and says the new contract will create around 170 new jobs.

The contract follows a 40-million-euro deal announced with 3 Ireland to roll out broadband to rural areas. The new contract takes the government plan one step further and should guarantee high-speed internet access for the entire population, no matter where they live, by September 2010. Although Ireland has over 1.2 million subscribers to broadband, approximately a third of the country is without coverage, affecting 10% of the population—mostly in remote rural areas where traditional ADSL broadband is not feasible. The government says hundreds of jobs in these areas will be protected and created as the network attracts more investment—and the project hopes to bring Ireland in line with the rest of the European Union in terms of broadband coverage.

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