Broadband usage in homes among worst in Europe
A total of 43% of the country’s 1.5 million households have a broadband connection compared with 7% in 2005.
However, compared with the rest of the 27 countries in the EU, Ireland is still lagging far behind.
In January 2008, the EU27 average was 48%, 5% more than Ireland in the first quarter of this year.
At 43%, Ireland’s percentage total was the same as Lithuania and 3% more than Latvia. It was also 31% lower than the Netherlands and Denmark.
Of the original 15 EU countries, Ireland has the fourth worst household broadband usage. Of those countries, the average was 52%.
The Central Statistics Office, which revealed Ireland’s household broadband usage in the first quarter, said 70% of households that had at least one member aged 16-74 had a home computer. That compared with 55% in 2005. Almost nine out of every 10 of the households had their computer connected to the internet, compared with 82% in 2005.
Three years ago, when 7% of the country’s households had broadband, 39% were using a connect via modem or ISDN. Now just 19% are using the slower technology.
In terms of commercial usage, almost 100% of companies employing more than 10 people now have internet access and, of those companies, 83% have broadband access. That is a considerable increase on the 61% who had access to the faster internet technology just two years ago in 2006.
However, it must be borne in mind that most new companies locating in Ireland are positioning themselves in or near major population centres where the Government’s broadband programme has reached.
The concern remains that the Government’s plan to make broadband available countrywide has been postponed, despite 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. As late as two weeks ago, Communications Minister Eamon Ryan announced that 3 had been selected as the preferred tenderer to roll out broadband to the parts of the country currently unserved. At that point, the minister said work would only be finalised and a final announcement made upon completion of the contract this month.
The aim of the NBS, according to the Government’s 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.
