Broadband plan postponed again

THE Government’s plan to make broadband available countrywide has been postponed again, despite recent figures showing broadband penetration nationally at less than 25%.

The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) was originally planned to start on July 1 but was delayed.

The latest posting on the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources website stated a provider would be nominated in the autumn, but this is not now expected until November.

BT has already pulled out of the race for the contract leaving eircom and H3GI remaining.

The aim of the NBS, according to the Government’s own consultation paper, is to ensure that by early 2010, a broadband service is provided to all areas of the country that do not now have a service.

A total of €435 million has been designated for broadband provision under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013.

At the end of last year, 31% of Irish households had broadband connections compared to the EU average of 42%.

Many parts of the country, particularly rural areas, have no access to broadband services and the NBS is aimed at remedying this.

Earlier this year, Communications Minister Eamon Ryan pledged Ireland’s broadband speeds would equal or exceed those of EU countries.