Regional Authority Launches €14 Million Broadband Project For The South-east Region

flamegrill

“This Broadband Project is a very important development for the South-East region in that it will see the installation of a key, state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure in the principal urban centres in each county in our region”, so stated Cllr. James Tobin, Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority at the launch today in Clonard Community Centre, Clonard, Wexford by Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources of the ‘SERPANT’: South-East Broadband Project.

“It will, when completed early next year, enhance the attractiveness and marketability of the South-East Region for inward industrial investment and for enterprise development”, said Cllr. Tobin.

The ‘SERPANT’ South-East Broadband Project is the largest and most complex single project in the National Broadband Programme that forms part of the overall National Development Plan for 2000 to 2006. The project will cost an estimated €14 million and involves construction of almost 100 kms of underground fibre-optic cabling in the following 6 cities and towns in the Region: -Waterford, Kilkenny, Dungarvan, Clonmel, Carlow and Wexford. The Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources is providing 90% of the cost with the remaining 10% being funded by the 6 City/County Councils in the Region.

“The ‘SERPANT’ Broadband Project is being coordinated and managed by the South-East Regional Authority on behalf of its 6 constituent City/County Councils. It represents a unique exercise in inter-authority and regional co-operation and partnership to provide essential public infrastructure, and we believe that this is the way forward”, added Cllr. Tobin to the large attendance at the launch.

“Beneficiaries of the infrastructure will include the Region’s largest companies, small and medium sized enterprises and the community at large, the Institutes of Technology campuses in the Region, local authority and health board offices, industrial and business parks, and many other public and private enterprises”, said Cllr. Tobin at the launch.

Construction of the networks in all the cities and towns is scheduled to commence in September and is expected to last for a period of 6 months.

“The ‘SERPANT’ South-East Broadband Project represents a further step in charting the way forward for the South-East to become a modern, dynamic and successful region”, stated Cllr. Tobin.

Sounds interesting, has anyone else read about this?

Paul

shinzon

Sounds interesting, havent read anything about it meself, but in sure a few of the chaps will be along im awhile to explain it more fully, by the way flamegrill did you get my PM

Shin

SkepticOne

There is still the small issue of the last mile.

shinzon

Mebbe silly

but isnt that the point of laying all this fibre optic cabling in the first place so they could bypass the last mile copper

Shin

flamegrill

Originally posted by SkepticOne
There is still the small issue of the last mile.

This is true, however if a wireless ISP forms in the region surely it would make it viable and less expensive than getting bandwidth from eircom and with wireless we all know the last mile really isn't an issue.

If I get a chance over the weekend I'll upload a document that came with the press release.

Paul

SkepticOne

Indeed. If it allows small wireless firms and the various WAN groups to connect then it should be of benefit. Backhaul is a major issue.

iwb

This is announcing the building of six more of the nineteen MAN infrastructure projects, that's all. It has been discussed quite a bit on the boards already and the same comments come up every time.
Basically, many of them are already underway. These will be shortly. All will be finished before the end of 2004, and some long before then. they will be owned by the local authority but managed by a 'management services entity'. The call for proposals closed a few weeks ago. You can read lots more at www.dcmnr.ie/mse.
Depending on who wins the MSE contract, this initiative may very well do a lot for the nineteen towns in question. Data Electronics and Axia are two of the companies who bid for it according to the Irish Times a while back.