Poor broadband speed ‘leaves us in Stone Age’

IRELAND is in the “Stone Age” when it comes to broadband communications, the opposition claimed after new research found the country is “not ready” for the next generation of internet technology.

There are 15 countries ahead of Ireland for broadband speed and we are among the countries listed as not being prepared for the next generation of “smart” internet applications, such as watching high-definition TV online or new video communications which will become “mainstream in a few years’ time”.

The study by Oxford University and commissioned by technology giant Cisco said download speed in Ireland has increased by 35% in the past year – putting us ahead of Britain, France and United States.