Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

The December 2007 Forfás report on Ireland's broadband performance and policy requirements found that broadband continued to grow strongly. At the end of June 2007, there were 698,000 broadband subscribers, including 45,000 mobile and broadband subscribers. According to the report:

Broadband take-up continues to grow strongly. Ireland added 6.6 new broadband connections per 100 inhabitants in the year to June 2007, the highest growth of all OECD countries. As a result, Ireland's ranking improved to 21st out of the 32 benchmarked countries in June 2007, compared to ranking 24th in June 2006. However, the broadband penetration rate in Ireland at 15.4 % still lags the OECD average of 18.8 %.

Ireland compares well on prices for 34 Mbit/s leased lines [. . .] but is relatively expensive for other broadband speeds.

The key issue from a business development perspective is the limited range and speed of broadband services available and their comparatively higher cost. The fastest speed that is widely available in Ireland (6 Mbit/s), costs four to five times more than considerably higher speed services in countries such as France, Germany and Hungary.

This must change.

Local loop unbundling, LLU, for current broadband needs and next generation experts for future requirements are the dominant issues for broadband in Ireland. According to ComReg:

Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is a key wholesale product in telecommunications which provides the ability for non incumbent operators to provide new and innovative broadband products.

LLU is a process whereby a new entrant or alternative authorised telecommunications operator takes control of a copper cable from a local exchange to a customer premises in return for rental payments to Eircom for the purposes of providing telephone, broadband or other value added services.

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