Rate of broadband users among lowest in Europe

Ian Guider

The survey of broadband penetration in the 25 EU member states has ranked Ireland ninth overall with just over 138,000 high speed internet connections. The EU survey found that the broadband penetration rate in Ireland was just 3% compared to 17% in the Netherlands.

Poland and the Czech Republic have the same rate as Ireland, while most western European countries have more than 10% penetration rates.

While the figures show Ireland at the lower end of the scale, the growth rate is higher than in many other countries. Between July 2004 and January 2005, broadband lines doubled.

There was also good news for competitors of eircom: the market share for broadband connections among incumbent telecom operators was falling.

Eircom said last week it had more than 140,000 DSL broadband customers and it was signing up 1,250 new customers every week. The company has set a target of 500,000 DSL broadband customers by end of 2007.

The EU survey, which is using figures ntil the beginning of this year, shows that, of the total of broadband connections, 22,000 were using technology other that digital subscriber line (DSL), such as satellite.