This article is from page 17 of the 2009-04-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
THE lack of adequate broadband coverage 1s “deeply frustrating” for communities across Clare, according to the Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Ea- mon Ryan.
Speaking in Ennis on Thursday last, Minster Ryan said Ireland has been “playing catch-up” with the rest of the Europe in terms of broadband connectivity.
He said a multi-pronged approach was needed to deliver better broad- band services, particularly in rural Weer
He said, “Okay, while we’ve been playing catch-up and there is no doubt about it, the availability wasn’t available the way we want it. It has been deeply frustrating for people in areas who couldn’t get broadband. But we’re working on that. We’re putting in mechanisms where we can actually provide it and slowly catch- ing up. Our aim now is to get ahead of other countries and other similar rural areas in particular.”
Minster Ryan was commenting fol-
lowing recent statements by Eircom that communities living more than 5km from a telephone exchange may not be able to receive high-speed broadband access, because of the limitations of Eircom’s DSL technol- ogy.
“Their type of broadband, DSL, works up to about five miles from an exchange. If you’re not near that then the speed starts to lower and the quality doesn’t work as well,” said the Green Party TD.
Minster Ryan continued, “That’s only one of the options, in terms of broadband, that are available. There are a whole variety of others – wire- less technologies, fixed wireless. We have our new national broadband scheme, which is providing mobile broadband to areas that otherwise previously hadn’t got it, and a range of other operators apart from Eir- com. What we’re aiming to do Is to have broadband available across the country and across the county of Clare. And, on the back of that, to keep pushing the competition to get other operators in and to get systems available.”