Ahern vows to intervene on broadband

The Minister for Communications, Dermot Ahern has warned that he would intervene on regulatory, infrastructural and legislative fronts to deliver broadband technology.

Ahern said that almost 80 large towns were losing out because the market was not addressing the challenge of providing this infrastructure.

"It is simply unsustainable that this infrastructural deficit is not being met. I want that deficit addressed in a pro-competition, pro-choice and low-cost fashion," he said.

"If it isn't addressed quickly by the market, I will intervene on the regulatory, infrastructural and legislative fronts to advance change," he said.

He also said that if Ireland remained content with low volumes and high prices, communications will fail and the economy will fail also.

Ahern was addressing the Irish Business and Employers Confederation's (IBEC's) technology conference in Dublin today.