5. Business and the Web

Back to contents of State of the Net issue 3

Businesses with internet access

It’s on the agenda of every business lobbyist – access to affordable broadband and its impact on the competitiveness of Irish businesses. 2006 is proving to be the turning point in terms of widespread broadband adoption and greater choice – both for consumers and businesses.

But that positive news has yet to impact on our rating in international comparative surveys. The latest, from EuroStat, shows that Irish businesses are on a par with the EU25 when it comes to Web access, with a 94% ranking.

The picture is not as positive for broadband, with the proportion of Irish businesses with broadband access at 61%, a considerable 14 percentage points off the EU25 average.

This comparison is based on first quarter numbers for 2006. A marked improvement in the Irish status can be expected in the next EuroStat study.

Back to contents of State of the Net issue 3