2. Broadband map reveals extent of digital divide

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The north-west is Ireland’s broadband blackspot, with adoption levels among consumers up to five times lower than in certain parts of Dublin. A colour-coded map, produced for State of the Net and based on the 2006 Census, illustrates the extent of the urban/rural divide in broadband uptake.

Leitrim with just 7.8% broadband usage has the lowest penetration, while Dun Laoghaire Rathdown is the highest at almost 40%. Generally, adoption levels in the eastern seaboard are better than the West with one notable exception – Wexford, at 10%

Separately, new international data shows that broadband speeds in Ireland are among the slowest among the 30 OECD countries. Ireland’s speed of 3Mbit per second (based on the fastest consumer connection from the incumbent telecoms operator) puts us at 23rd spot, which pales into insignificance against Korea and Japan with a phenomenal 100Mbit per second.

Fergal O’Byrne, the Irish Internet Association’s chief executive, comments: “The latest edition of State of the Net shows the continuing emergence of a digital divide on two main fronts. In Ireland the divide is based on broadband availability – the emergence of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. The IIA has consistently campaigned, and put its case to Government, for the recognition of affordable, high-speed broadband as a basic right. We regard it as a utility service like water and electricity.

“The second divide appears when we zoom out of Ireland and look at access speeds and affordability in relation to the global picture. Having broadband is only the first step. To engender real take up of the service and to exploit it as a killer business tool, broadband offerings here must be among the fastest access speeds and most affordable possible to maintain our position as a knowledge economy.”

Back to contents of State of the Net issue 6