BSkyB eyes up Irish broadband market

BSKYB is likely to enter the Irish broadband market, through its Sky Ireland subsidiary, within the next year.

In London yesterday, the broadcasting corporation announced details of its Sky broadband package for the British market. Sky is set to invest £400 million (€584m) into the service over the next three years and it is tipped to be earnings enhancing by 2010.

With regard to the Irish market, one industry source said: “Would Sky like to roll this out in Ireland? Yes. Will it do so? Yes. The big question would seem to be when. They’d like it to be as soon as possible, but much will depend on the development of Ireland’s broadband map and greater local loop unbundling (LLU).

“Ultimately, though, Sky is viewing the customer as king and if the demand for a service exists, it will endeavour to offer flexibility and choice to the end user.”

The Irish offering will also be branded as Sky Broadband and will be operated by its Easynet broadband provider subsidiary, which BSkyB acquired last year.