Watchdog defends 77m broadband risk

THE Government has yet to get back almost half of its 77 million investment on a troubled international telecoms link to the US and Europe.

Yet the taxpayer’s watchdog yesterday defended the risk taken by the Government five years ago in the costly venture aimed at providing high speed internet and telephone lines.

The Department of Communications is taking court cases against three companies refusing to pay 11 million owed in fees for use of the high-speed international connection.