Internet in Ireland

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In Ireland, Eircom (the largest telephone company in Ireland) began rolling out Broadband in 2002. With over 85 ISPs ^[1] there is now significant choice and competition to the point where the average monthly subscription cost is $40.41, 20% cheaper than the average of $49 for the 35 OECD countries surveyed ^[2]. These other operators include imagine telecommunications, Gaelic Telecom, BT Ireland, Smart Telecom, Clearwire, Magnet Networks and UTV Internet. Several wireless services such as Irish Broadband, Lastmile Broadband and Digiweb also exist in metropolitan areas, and some towns around the country. These licenced operators now account for a 32% share of the market. ^[3]

Broadband is available in Ireland via DSL, Cable, Wireless and Satellite ^[4]. As of November 2007, DSL is available to around 88% of homes and businesses. Overall takeup of broadband (cable, DSL, wireless, etc.) is 18.4% as of Q3 2007 ^[5] and there are 793,600 broadband subscriptions as of Q3 2007 ^[6]. 5% of lines connected to broadband-enabled exchanges cannot avail of DSL, due to distance and other issues ^[7].

In the first quarter of 2007, 31% of Irish households had a broadband connection, compared with 13% a year before.^[8]

In 2005, Northern Ireland became the only European geographic region with 100% broadband coverage and one of a few outside Asia, this was achieved by a partnership between the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and BT Northern Ireland.

[edit] External links

• Broadband.gov.ie, Consumer broadband information

[edit] References