IRELAND'S BROADBAND BOTTOM OF THE CLASS AGAIN
Issued : Friday 5 February, 2010
Areas : Dalkey, Sandycove, Dun Laoghaire, Monkstown, Blackrock
Councillor Stephen Fitzpatrick has expressed disappointment following the publication of yet another report that criticises Ireland's broadband performance.
"The Akamai report, as quoted by Ireland Offline, showed Ireland's performance on broadband speed is one of the slowest in Europe. Time and again Ireland is ranked near the bottom of the class when it comes to broadband penetration, speed and value for money. It is clear that high-speed, reasonably priced broadband is critical to any modern society and to our economic recovery.
"Figures released by Akamai, and reported by Ireland Offline, found that Ireland had the highest percentage of slow connections in Europe at 3.4%. We were found to have the 4th lowest percentage of fast connections over 5mbits in Europe at 9.4%.
"These disappointing figures follow an OECD report that placed Ireland 20th of the 30 OECD countries in terms of broadband access, and comes after several other EU reports showing Ireland's broadband quality to be below average.
"I am urging Communications Minister Eamon Ryan to take these reports on board and to make high-speed quality broadband a priority for 2010."
ENDS//.
Contact (Stephen Fitzpatrick. 086 781 4519)
Cllr 
