Broadband, it’s not just about downloading Netflix. Broadband as an infrastructure becomes more and more important with each passing year. It is about businesses running their operations in rural areas, providing jobs for local people. It’s about schools being able to provide IT services so that children in rural schools are getting the same education as their friends in urban areas. It’s about farmers using IT services that will improve their quality of life and allow them to be more efficient in their business. In essence, it’s providing a service that allows rural communities to grow and thrive.
Up until now, the focus has been on quantity. Broadband dominates internet connection in Ireland, with 97% of the population, including 94% in rural areas, having access to broadband. However, it is the quality that is the problem. Slow, inconsistent, unreliable. These are all words that sum up the experience of many of our readers when it comes to the service provided.
The future
So what does the future hold? The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) is now committed to delivering high-speed broadband nationwide. All indications are that it will be achieved by 2020. It certainly appears promising as the commercial companies are planning to deliver a Fibre to the Home solution to over half a million rural homes.
Fibre to the cabinet
Carolan Lennon, managing director of Eircom wholesale explains more:
“Presently, in urban areas of the country broadband is predominantly supplied to homes and business by Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). So, fibre runs from the main source, which is the exchange, and is distributed to cabinets. Then broadband is pushed into homes from the cabinet via copper. This suits the urban infrastructure as you have one cabinet serving many houses that are close together.”
Currently, Eircom is running its high-speed broadband roll-out programme, which means houses and businesses in urban areas and rural areas that are quite close to towns and cities will be able to reach speeds of up to 100MB/s. Today, 1.2m homes have access to these speeds. By 2016, 1.6m homes will have access to a high-speed broadband network. Using FTTH, Eircom will extend its reach to 1.9m homes by 2020.
The Government website www.broadband.gov.ie (under the section County and Townland Maps) clearly lists each area of the country, detailing the town lands that can expect to be covered by this technology by 2016.
National Broadband Plan
However, what happens if you’re area isn’t included in this commercial plan? This affects many of our readers that are based in rural areas. In this scenario, you will slot in under the National Broadband Plan. The bad news is it could be 2020 before you get high-speed broadband in your home.
The good news is the service that could be delivered (by the provider that wins the tender) may far exceed the service currently being offered in urban areas as it could use super-fast fibre optics. This would be considered world-class broadband with potential speeds of 1,000MB.
“Fibre to the Home (FTTH) is Eircom’s NBP solution proposed for rural areas. Fibre would run straight from the local exchange into the home. There will be no cabinets or copper. This will mean that rural residents will be able to access super speeds and you won’t be sharing these speeds with your neighbours,” says Carolan.
So when can rural residents realistically see this fast-speed broadband in their area? Currently, the NBP is at the final consultation stage. It will go to tender by the end of the year to determine who will build the infrastructure and the Government hopes to award the tender in the middle of next year.
The build will start in 2016, so some rural areas will see the development of Fibre to the Home broadband by the end of next year. However, for others it may take until 2020, but if everything that is being promised is delivered, then certainly the wait may be worth it. CL
Promises about
broadband plans
We’ve heard them all before. So what’s so different this time? This was the question put to the IFA, which is campaigning hard for rural broadband.
Tim O’Leary, deputy president of the IFA, says: “Since 2007, we have been hearing announcement after announcement about the National Broadband Scheme. It ended last year and no wonder people have a bad taste in their mouth. There were very few positives to take away from it and broadband is still very slow in rural areas.”
So what’s so different about the National Broadband Plan?
“For a start, we can see that the Government isn’t just going to write a cheque this time. There has been a big investment into resources with a dedicated team that has increased tenfold in capacity. They now have the skills and technical expertise to get the job done properly.
“It is a collaborative approach with the telecommunications industry. Between the Government contribution and the matching investment by the industry, we are talking about a €1bn project.
“Eircom has already shown that the proposed infrastructure actually works. Belcarra may still just be a pilot scheme, but it’s been very successful. It’s one thing talking about projects, it’s another thing doing it. This means a Fibre to the Home solution can be a reality in rural areas, it’s within our grasp.
“Also, some of our members sit within the areas currently being upgraded by the NGA programme and they are already seeing the positive impact. This isn’t a trial, this is a percentage of our subscribers who for the first time ever are going from speeds of 1MB to 60MB.
“However, it is the NBP that we are most concerned with, as it benefits the majority of our members. We see it as a huge game changer, a levelling of the pitch to get rural in line with urban Ireland. Looking to the future, we don’t want to ever have to re-visit rural broadband. It needs to be future-proofed, a solution that works first time,” concluded O’Leary.
NBP in brief
• The NBP will run from 2016 to 2020. Upon completion, all rural areas of the country will be provided with high-speed broadband.• Fibre to the Home is the optimum solution. It means fibre will run directly from the exchange into your home.• Speeds of up to 1,000MB could be achieved.• You can find out whether your area is on the NBP by logging on to www.broadband.gov.ieCould your area be the next Belcarra?
Evidence of the success and power of FTTH can be seen in the town of Belcarra, Co Mayo, which was the first community in Ireland to have Fibre to the Home installed as part of a pilot scheme. Eager to get Fibre to the Home broadband in your area? Eircom has launched a nationwide competition to find the next Belcarra. Communities are asked to present a compelling case as to why their locality should win. The competition is open to communities with no access to high-speed broadband and are awaiting the deployment of the National Broadband Plan. In the coming weeks, we’ll give you an insight into what judges are really looking for. Details on www.fibrerollout.ie. The closing date is 15 September.
Broadband, it’s not just about downloading Netflix. Broadband as an infrastructure becomes more and more important with each passing year. It is about businesses running their operations in rural areas, providing jobs for local people. It’s about schools being able to provide IT services so that children in rural schools are getting the same education as their friends in urban areas. It’s about farmers using IT services that will improve their quality of life and allow them to be more efficient in their business. In essence, it’s providing a service that allows rural communities to grow and thrive.
Up until now, the focus has been on quantity. Broadband dominates internet connection in Ireland, with 97% of the population, including 94% in rural areas, having access to broadband. However, it is the quality that is the problem. Slow, inconsistent, unreliable. These are all words that sum up the experience of many of our readers when it comes to the service provided.
The future
So what does the future hold? The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) is now committed to delivering high-speed broadband nationwide. All indications are that it will be achieved by 2020. It certainly appears promising as the commercial companies are planning to deliver a Fibre to the Home solution to over half a million rural homes.
Fibre to the cabinet
Carolan Lennon, managing director of Eircom wholesale explains more:
“Presently, in urban areas of the country broadband is predominantly supplied to homes and business by Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). So, fibre runs from the main source, which is the exchange, and is distributed to cabinets. Then broadband is pushed into homes from the cabinet via copper. This suits the urban infrastructure as you have one cabinet serving many houses that are close together.”
Currently, Eircom is running its high-speed broadband roll-out programme, which means houses and businesses in urban areas and rural areas that are quite close to towns and cities will be able to reach speeds of up to 100MB/s. Today, 1.2m homes have access to these speeds. By 2016, 1.6m homes will have access to a high-speed broadband network. Using FTTH, Eircom will extend its reach to 1.9m homes by 2020.
The Government website www.broadband.gov.ie (under the section County and Townland Maps) clearly lists each area of the country, detailing the town lands that can expect to be covered by this technology by 2016.
National Broadband Plan
However, what happens if you’re area isn’t included in this commercial plan? This affects many of our readers that are based in rural areas. In this scenario, you will slot in under the National Broadband Plan. The bad news is it could be 2020 before you get high-speed broadband in your home.
The good news is the service that could be delivered (by the provider that wins the tender) may far exceed the service currently being offered in urban areas as it could use super-fast fibre optics. This would be considered world-class broadband with potential speeds of 1,000MB.
“Fibre to the Home (FTTH) is Eircom’s NBP solution proposed for rural areas. Fibre would run straight from the local exchange into the home. There will be no cabinets or copper. This will mean that rural residents will be able to access super speeds and you won’t be sharing these speeds with your neighbours,” says Carolan.
So when can rural residents realistically see this fast-speed broadband in their area? Currently, the NBP is at the final consultation stage. It will go to tender by the end of the year to determine who will build the infrastructure and the Government hopes to award the tender in the middle of next year.
The build will start in 2016, so some rural areas will see the development of Fibre to the Home broadband by the end of next year. However, for others it may take until 2020, but if everything that is being promised is delivered, then certainly the wait may be worth it. CL
Promises about
broadband plans
We’ve heard them all before. So what’s so different this time? This was the question put to the IFA, which is campaigning hard for rural broadband.
Tim O’Leary, deputy president of the IFA, says: “Since 2007, we have been hearing announcement after announcement about the National Broadband Scheme. It ended last year and no wonder people have a bad taste in their mouth. There were very few positives to take away from it and broadband is still very slow in rural areas.”
So what’s so different about the National Broadband Plan?
“For a start, we can see that the Government isn’t just going to write a cheque this time. There has been a big investment into resources with a dedicated team that has increased tenfold in capacity. They now have the skills and technical expertise to get the job done properly.
“It is a collaborative approach with the telecommunications industry. Between the Government contribution and the matching investment by the industry, we are talking about a €1bn project.
“Eircom has already shown that the proposed infrastructure actually works. Belcarra may still just be a pilot scheme, but it’s been very successful. It’s one thing talking about projects, it’s another thing doing it. This means a Fibre to the Home solution can be a reality in rural areas, it’s within our grasp.
“Also, some of our members sit within the areas currently being upgraded by the NGA programme and they are already seeing the positive impact. This isn’t a trial, this is a percentage of our subscribers who for the first time ever are going from speeds of 1MB to 60MB.
“However, it is the NBP that we are most concerned with, as it benefits the majority of our members. We see it as a huge game changer, a levelling of the pitch to get rural in line with urban Ireland. Looking to the future, we don’t want to ever have to re-visit rural broadband. It needs to be future-proofed, a solution that works first time,” concluded O’Leary.
NBP in brief
• The NBP will run from 2016 to 2020. Upon completion, all rural areas of the country will be provided with high-speed broadband.• Fibre to the Home is the optimum solution. It means fibre will run directly from the exchange into your home.• Speeds of up to 1,000MB could be achieved.• You can find out whether your area is on the NBP by logging on to www.broadband.gov.ieCould your area be the next Belcarra?
Evidence of the success and power of FTTH can be seen in the town of Belcarra, Co Mayo, which was the first community in Ireland to have Fibre to the Home installed as part of a pilot scheme. Eager to get Fibre to the Home broadband in your area? Eircom has launched a nationwide competition to find the next Belcarra. Communities are asked to present a compelling case as to why their locality should win. The competition is open to communities with no access to high-speed broadband and are awaiting the deployment of the National Broadband Plan. In the coming weeks, we’ll give you an insight into what judges are really looking for. Details on www.fibrerollout.ie. The closing date is 15 September.
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