Advisory Body To Improve Broadband

Communications Minister Eamon Ryan today announced a new advisory body set up to look at improving Ireland's broadband infrastructure.

The International Advisory Forum on Next Generation Broadband Networks will examine how broadband service can be improved in Ireland.

Recent statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) placed Ireland third from the bottom on a league table showing average advertised maximum speeds in member states, with only Mexico and Turkey having slower services than those available in Ireland.

The Minister said: �The availability of broadband remains an issue for many consumers. The National Broadband Scheme will, in the coming months, begin to address the final piece of the availability issue.

"I have established an International Advisory Forum to advise on next challenge ahead � how we can get higher speed broadband at lower costs�"

The group will meet in Dublin on 26 and 27 February to advise him on the optimum role for Government in the development of Next Generation Broadband in Ireland.

The Forum will bring valuable insight and expertise into the development of Ireland�s future broadband policy.

There were almost 800,000 broadband subscribers in Ireland at the end of September 2007, including 88,000 mobile broadband subscriptions. This marked a year in which Ireland had the fastest growth rate in broadband subscriptions in the OECD.

�Ireland needs a high-end, knowledge driven economy with a responsive, cutting edge telecommunications infrastructure" the Minister added. "Next Generation Broadband is central to our economic performance. The Forum will make a number of recommendations to me, which will frame our broadband future.

(VB)