6. Broadband Coverage

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IRELAND MAP. Source: wireless and DSL broadband map, National Broadband Scheme, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural resources, March 2008

To hell or to Connacht. Swathes of Connacht are “unlikely” to be provided with a broadband service in the future, according to a national broadband map produced by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). Broadband blackspots include North Mayo, Sligo, Connemara,North Galway and East Galway.The map shows both DSL and wireless availability nationwide.

These locations are identified as “green” and “blue” areas on the DCENR’s broadband coverage map. Green areas are defined as places “where no service is currently provided and is unlikely to be provided in the future”.

Blue areas are “places currently without broadband coverage but where service providers have indicated that they plan to provide broadband services in the future”.

At least the DCENR is on the consumers’ side. It says that it is “no longer justifiable for this broadband deficit to continue, particularly from social inclusion and economic competitiveness perspectives”.

As well as the west of Ireland, other broadband blackspots include: West Kerry, West Cork, South Limerick and Mid-Wicklow. The gaps in broadband availability in the Republic is in stark contrast to Northern Ireland, which now has 100% broadband coverage from a combination of local exchanges, wireless and satellite technologies.

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