EU Smacks down Ireland over broadband but in a subtle way...

damien

“Broadband for all”: Commission mobilises all its policy instruments to bridge the broadband gap

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/340&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/03/21/story250265.html

Ireland urged to do more to improve broadband access

The European Commission is calling on Ireland and other member states to do more to improve broadband access in rural areas.

The commission said today that individual member states needed to strengthen their broadband strategies and set clear targets for achieving progress in the roll-out of the technology.

The EC said governments should use EU structural and rural development funds to help reach these targets.

Ireland's broadband penetration is currently among the lowest in the EU at just over 5%.

This compares to almost 24% in the Netherlands, 22.5% in Denmark and just over 20% in Finland.

damien

http://europa.eu.int/ireland/press_office/latest_news/broadbandforall_en.htm

Wide broadband coverage is central to fostering jobs and growth across Europe. “Ireland is lagging far behind in broadband penetration,” cautioned Martin Territt, Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland. “The Commission is seeking to speed up broadband take-up – particularly for rural communities.” The latest statistics show that broadband penetration in Ireland stands at just 5.34%, in comparison with best figures of 23.79% in the Netherlands, 22.51% in Denmark and 20.33% in Finland.

Furthermore, there is a significant urban/rural gap, with rural communities lagging behind in terms of coverage, due to population scarcity and distance. This means lower returns on investment, which can discourage commercial suppliers. Public/private partnerships are, therefore, necessary to increase broadband take-up. Indeed, the Commission has recently approved a €170 million public programme in Ireland to promote broadband availability in areas lagging behind. “Broadband connections must not be limited to the big cities, said Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media. If the EU and its 25 Member States make a clever use of all policy instruments, broadband for all Europeans is certainly not out of reach by 2010. But the time to act is now.”

“Bridging the Broadband Gap” mobilises several powerful EU instruments, including telecoms rules, state aid rules, structural funds and rural development funds. To accelerate the roll-out of advanced broadband communications in Europe, the Commission today proposes two main strands of action:

* strengthening national broadband strategies, which should set clear targets and reflect regional needs, including a strategic approach to making use of EU and national funding in less-developed or rural areas;

* stepping up the exchange of best practices, in particular by the setting up of a website that will act as a single meeting point for local authorities and industry players to exchange information and gather experience. The Commission will also hold a large “Broadband for all” conference at the start of 2007 to showcase the benefits of broadband services to the rural communities.

Mr_Man

It would be interesting to know how the 5% of the population which has taken up BB is split between those in centres with more than 1500 people and those not.

If I had to guess I'd say its in the high 90's, yet as the GBS schemes show there is a big appetite out in the country for BB, and the benefits and opportunities it brings.

Another interesting question to ask would be, of all of the GBS schemes approved since its inception how many are online, and how many subscribers are connected? Rumour has it that many of those awarded grants in the last round have made little or no progress toward providing a service, despite promises of a rapid rollout.

M.

damien

http://lists.ie/pipermail/media/2006/000052.html

Sponge Bob

damien.m wrote:

http://lists.ie/pipermail/media/2006/000052.html

Very very good and to the point . Is it truncated a bit at the end ???

Silicon Republic has some further EU Commission stuff Here including

"This morning the commission proposed two main strands of action: strengthening national broadband strategies in order to set clear targets, reflect regional needs and make good use of EU and national funding in less-developed or rural areas; and stepping up the exchange of best practices. On the latter point, a website that will act as a meeting ground for local authorities (oops SB) and industry players (oops again SB)to exchange information and gather experience is to be established.

who defines 'players' then ?

Also, a large ‘broadband for all’ conference will be held by the commission at the start of 2007 to showcase the benefits of broadband services to rural communities"

Comreg were on to me last week to Deputy Chef D'Équipe their sizeable Delemagayshun to a big stonking 4 day jolly in Barcelona next year, this must be what the gig is. Naturally I accepted the invitation in good grace seeing as someone else is paying for it

watty

And how many GBS are brain damaged by using Satellite as back haul?

damien

Sponge Bob wrote:

Very very good and to the point . Is it truncated a bit at the end ???

Yeah. God be with the days when we had a team of editors to look over my obvious errors. Was a bit disappointed that some new orgs copied and pasted the thing without proofing it.

Had fun on the Last Word at 1730. Mentioned the glorious regulator a few times. The Minister was stuck in a meeting and could not go on the show. Funny that.

Altreab

damien.m wrote:

Yeah. God be with the days when we had a team of editors to look over my obvious errors. Was a bit disappointed that some new orgs copied and pasted the thing without proofing it.

Had fun on the Last Word at 1730. Mentioned the glorious regulator a few times. The Minister was stuck in a meeting and could not go on the show. Funny that.

Is it possible to get a recording of this interview anywhere?

zuma

http://www.radioireland.ie/lastword/lastword.html

It starts at 16:30 these days....though they only save from 17:00-to-19:00...but the interview is there!

eircomtribunal

zuma wrote:

http://www.radioireland.ie/lastword/lastword.html
from 17:00-to-19:00...but the interview is there!

How many minutes into the recording approx?
P.

damien

about 30 I would think