2. Broadband

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Largely positive developments on broadband this quarter. The latest broadband statistics, for the third quarter of 2008, show total subscriptions standing at 1.125 million, an increase of 6.7% over the previous quarter.

There is evidence that the wide gap between Ireland’s broadband penetration and that of our European neighbours is narrowing. EU data, quoted by ComReg, puts the average fixed penetration level in Ireland at 19.5%, compared with 21.7% for the EU27. A new national broadband scheme has been unveiled, designed to plug the availability gaps.

European City Broadband Ranking. Source: European City Preliminary Internet Performance Index (www.epitiro.com) December 2008

One more negative take on the great broadband debate comes courtesy of a study on the gaps between broadband speeds advertised and actually delivered. The Epitiro study showed that consumers were getting just 60% of the bandwidth speed advertised. Worryingly, Epitiro put Dublin as second worst of eight European cities for broadband.

Back to the contents of State of the Net issue 12