Old news? - €18 Million South East Broadband Opened

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€18 Million South East Broadband Opened

Network targets six towns in five counties
Dublin, Friday, 17th September, 2004
The €18 million South East Broadband project, which involved the laying of 86 kms of high speed Internet cable in five counties, was opened today in Wexford.

Dermot Ahern, T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, and Minister of State, John Browne, T.D. formally launched the project which is 90% funded by the Government and the EU. The new network, which will link industry, business, public buildings and educational institutions, as well as residential customers, is expected to go live shortly.

The South East project is the largest of the national towns fibre network programme, involving the investment of €65 million. Six of the 19 towns are located in the south east: Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Dungarvan, Waterford and Clonmel.

The project, 90% grant aided by the Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, is co-funded by the EU under the European Regional Development Fund.

Speaking at the opening in Wexford, Minister Ahern said: “We are not stopping at this stage. We are beginning to roll out the Regional Broadband Programme, which will bring high speed communications links to another 350,000 people, involving a further 41 towns. This programme will cost €55 million, funded 90% by the Government in partnership with local councils.”

“I believe this investment will be repaid ten fold through increased competitiveness, global access and application of cutting edge technology. But we are not stopping at larger towns. In every town of over 1,500 people we are building strategic fibre broadband networks linking colleges, hospitals and industry and Community Broadband Exchanges to drive competition and lower prices.”

“We also are working to deliver the €25 million Group Broadband Scheme – which provides high speed connectivity for rural Communities of less than 1,500 people. The State pays up to 55% of the capital cost of that plan - the maximum allowable under EU rules. We have already signed contracts for the first three communities. Also we intend having every school countrywide connected to broadband by the end of next year.

“There is no doubt the rollout of broadband to the regions has been hampered by a lack of investment in the necessary infrastructure by the private sector. The Regional Broadband Programme is an ambitious plan for enabling broadband provision to the regions.”

Minister John Browne said: “What we are launching today is a huge boost for the economic and social life of the region. You will have heard a lot of discussion lately about the provision of broadband, from both the customers and the telcos viewpoint. The Government is investing in the provision of high-capacity broadband networks and making it possible for any provider of services, regardless of size, to obtain world-class high-speed connectivity from the MANs and sell it on to the customers at competitive prices.”

Ends

Carlow 12 Km €2.48M

Kilkenny 12 Km €3.32M

Wexford 20 Km €4.32M

Waterford 18 Km €3.68M

Dungarvan 9 Km €1.90M

Clonmel 15 Km €2.63M ________________________________________________________________

Totals 86 Km €18.33 Million