Country lags in broadband take-up tables

IRELAND is bringing up the rear on broadband take-up and competitiveness in Europe according to a survey by the European Competitive Telecommunications Association, which looks after the regulatory and commercial interests in the communications sector.

The pro-competition association, has called for stronger powers for regulators to implement competition rules, after publishing the results of its twice-yearly survey on broadband take-up and competitiveness in Europe.

It shows, while 20% of people in Europe subscribe to a broadband connection, competitive impetus has reduced, with the retail market share of incumbents persisting at close to 50% and slow growth of 10% in broadband connections.

In terms of broadband penetration, Ireland has been ranked 12th out of 15 EU states, ahead only of Italy, Portugal and Greece.

The report says Ireland experienced the third-highest growth in uptake in the region at 17%, but these percentages include figures for mobile broadband.

Based on the findings of its report, covering the June, July and August period of last year, the association says the retail market share controlled by the established telecommunication industry could move up to 80% of broadband lines across Europe or even close to 100% in many countries.

It reveals a threat to the primary source of competition, local loop unbundling, as incumbents seek a moratorium on unbundling next generation fibre access lines. If granted, this could result in incumbent operators controlling 80% of broadband lines across Europe.

Innocenzo Genna, chairman of the association said: “People often do not realise the choice they have of broadband provider and speeds and prices available depends on how effectively the regulator has opened up the last mile of the network to competitors. Policy-makers ignore this at their peril, because the choice we have today may be gone tomorrow if we do not act to keep telecoms markets open, and Europe’s competitiveness is at stake.”

The body says the EU telecoms market is reaching a critical stage as the existing legacy copper network is gradually replaced partly or wholly with next generation fibre lines.