Broadband promises - Rural users live in hope

Yesterday’s announcement that the new 4G network will enable broadband speeds of 180Mbps would be very welcome if it was credible on a nationwide basis.

It may transpire that users living next door to local sources will enjoy such a tremendous service but as anyone living more than a few miles from a telephone exchange can confirm Irish broadband speeds can be pathetic.

Most users pay for services “up to 8Mbps” but get a far weaker signal than that.

At this stage it would be appropriate if those who won yesterday’s 4G franchise were given a set period to provide that level of service in all parts of the country or lose the franchise, but that won’t happen.

Rural users dependent on dated infrastructure will more than likely be left to their own devices no matter how lucrative the licence proves to be in urban areas.