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Monaghan town goes wireless [ENN]
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01-05-2003 2:23am#1
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This is really excellent news. We soooo need real competition that is totally independent of eircom's infrastructure.Sigma, meanwhile, could reap long-term business benefits from a successful trial. "We want to prove that this technology can be used to effectively provide broadband in rural areas," explained Sigma's Tierney. "We aim to become the number one supplier of [fixed-wireless] hardware in the country," Tierney added, noting that the firm is hoping to roll out similar services in other rural areas in Ireland, possibly with the help of the government. "The Minster is here today and it's something we hope to talk about," he said.
The service will be implemented using Canopy Wireless equipment from Motorola, which operates licence-free in Ireland at 5.8Ghz. Pilot customers will then have a small external antenna fitted to their building.
There is no sign of BT/NTL or any other major players delivering an alternative last mile.
Small projects like this one, the various commercial and not for profit satellite and other WAN projects look like the best bet. The backhaul exists, thanks to the ESB, the Western Digital Corridor and the infamous fibre rings.
The DCMNR appears to have some understanding of the issues, as do the Minister and other politicians. However the seed funding for wireless trials/pilots/start-ups is woefully inadequate.
The battle for the hearts and minds of the politicians is pretty much done and dusted. Take a bow IOFFL and Eircomtribuneral. Read theses debates (here here here and here)– two years ago these people would have been terrified to touch a technology subject - now they manage a reasonable debate for 2 or 3 hours with very few howlers.
IOFFL, and that includes any poster here with any influence, (which is every poster here if they so choose) now needs to make Wireless the number one priority. We have real progress on DSL, we appear to have real progress on Flat Rate (1).
The politicians, the real decision makers are listening. Many are even talking. One or two, like Dermot Ahern, are actually doing useful things. NOW is the time to strike. ( sorry Xian
)
I would urge every one here to make contact with a local TD. Don’t just e-mail them. Meet them face to face and explain in simple clear terms what the issues are. She/he is your local representative. She/he is there to listen to you, take on board your needs and feed these requirements into the decision making process. The great majority of people here are intelligent, articulate and have a prize that every politician wants – a vote. Young votes are especially prized.
TD’s will respond best to approaches from voters from within their own constituencies. Find out who your local TDs are and meet them. All the better if they are present on the list of key players that follows in the second part of this post.
And when you meet them:- Do them the courtesy of being well prepared
- Explain to them how the absence (or price) of broadband impacts on you/your business/your family/your education. Explain also that far from being number 1 in the world, Ireland is currently ranked 51.
- Explain to them that Eircom/BT/NTL cannot and will not fix the problem
- Explain to them at DSL alone cannot and will not fix the problem
- Explain to them that ComReg alone cannot fix the problem
- Explain to them that what is needed is true competition, independent of Eircom’s infrastructure, with a much greater reach than DSL can currently deliver
- Explain that a lot of the hard work is done. That the backhaul exists.
- Explain that Wireless is the best possible solution to give both an independent competitive infrastructure and reach the places that DSL cannot go.
- Explain that this needs to be championed by the Government and in particular by the Minister, and that it may need some funding for trials/pilots/start-ups, and that the current funding of 250,000 euro is simply too small to achieve real progress.
- Explain that it is not just about funding. That DSL has progressed more in the last 5 months that in the previous 5 years, simply because the politicians (in this case Dermot Ahern in particular) took charge.
- Explain to the that if its good enough for Carrickmacross, its good enough for Carrigaline, Carrigaholt, Carrick-on-Shannon, Carrick-on-Suir, and of course Carrick itself.
- And everywhere else too
- Agree a time frame for them to meet with you again to review progress. 4-8 weeks would be good.
- Above all emphasise that this is a BIG ISSUE for you.
There are a lot of very articulate and intelligent people here, however posting here is preaching to the converted. As Adam said yesterday "I'm kinda bored of complaints about Eircom to be honest, I prefer to hear success stories these days." Get out and spread the message to the decision makers.
(1) De Rebel is an optimist, perhaps a chicken counting optimist.0 -
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