Villages to beam in broadband
The Ballyhoura Development LEADER Group has applied to the Department of Communications for approval to provide a wireless broadband service from the villages of Ballyneety, Knocklong-Hospital and Kilfinane.
A TV type aerial will pick up a line-of-sight signal, providing wireless broadband communication for businesses and households up to seven kilometres (about four miles) from the villages.
Subject to permission from the Department, the system could be in place before the New Year, bringing remote rural dwellers fully on line long before cabled broadband could reach them from north Cork or Limerick city.
In their operational area from Mitchelstown to Limerick, Balyhoura Development is working with local development associations to get broadband into rural areas with populations under 1,500.
Shay O’Riordan, IT Officer, Ballyhoura Development says their pilot scheme in three Co Limerick villages will be effective if there are at least 30 connections, including a few businesses in each of the three areas.
He envisages that broadband internet access may enable some local residents who work in Limerick to do their work at home; also businesses based on on-line ordering and purchasing systems can set up, if broadband is available.
For a fee of about €29 per month, computer users in and around the three villages are due to get download speeds of 2 MB and upload speeds of 1 MB.
Broadband is up to 40 times faster than traditional dial-up internet access and it is “always-on”; no dial-up, no time restrictions, no cut-offs. The internet and telephone can be used at the same time; and smooth digital video and CD quality music are available, all for one flat fee per month with no additional internet call charges.
As a guide, you can view approximately 20 pages on the internet for each MB of download; an average four minute MP3 (music file) is approximately 4 MB; and a five-minute movie trailer can be as much as 30 MB.
