3 4 5
Broadband in The cable guy – IP tsunami Talking about a
Ireland hits UPC’s Robert Dunn about to hit – new generation –
one million Magnet’s Mark Digiweb’s
subscribers, Kellett Colm Piercy
says Minister
Eamon Ryan TD
REAL
BROADBAND ALTERNATIVES
Monday, 7 July, 2008
Ireland could lead the world
in platform competition
Forget about broadband bottlenecks, there are alternative platforms
available and these are set to eclipse copper, writes JOHN KENNEDY
UNTIL I moved to the country,
I thought a semi-d was just a
house. But my broadband
travails gave semi-d a new
meaning – semi-digital.
But just because your local
telephone exchange is not
broadband-enabled, it is no
longer an excuse not to have
broadband, as other avenues
such as wireless, fibre, cable
and satellite exist and could
soon overtake copper DSL
(digital subscriber loop).
Since necessity is the mother
of all invention, Ireland has
emerged as a powerhouse in
the development of alternative
means of accessing broadband
services other than just those
provided via copper DSL.
As the nation stands at an
economic crossroads, it is
becoming clear broadband can From left: Mark Kellett, Magnet; Robert Dunn, UPC; Colm Piercy, Digiweb
be viewed as a recession-
busting tool. competition is a digital head- “Ireland needs to ensure multi-platform voice and
Apply brains and broadband to-head scenario where there is further growth of broadband broadband provider that has
and there’s no reason for light regulation, balanced subscribers and higher been instrumental in boosting
unemployment, as individuals competition and strong penetration as a foundation to broadband in regional towns as
can use their experience and investment across a variety of ensure a more even economic well as city areas. He agrees
contacts and work at home as services. development across the that alternative platform
experts, consultants and “The broadband market in country,” Ward continued. competition is vital.
partners in a virtual business Ireland is dominated by Eircom “This means developing an “Ireland needs to move
that traverses the earth. and has grown at a steep rate of infrastructure that supports forward as a nation. We’ve been
Broadband isn’t just for 37pc a year from a low base in Ireland’s economic growth and lagging behind western Europe
teenagers who want to 2005. However, broadband attracts additional enterprises. for too long. We need to create
download from YouTube or talk penetration is only 19pc and Doing this requires innovation demand and central to this is
on Bebo. A mother of two who below the OECD average of in leading-edge broadband creating an environment for
wants to re-enter the workforce 20pc. UPC Ireland, as the major platforms and service offerings, alternative platforms to get a
could set up an entire business cable operator, ranks No 2 and thereby ensuring in-country hold.
around selling antiques on is closely followed by the DSL job creation,” Ward added. “This is already happening.
eBay, while a retired executive provider BT Ireland. Alternative In Ireland, cable provider Ireland now has more
can keep contacts fresh telecoms are on the rise but UPC is investing up to ¤1bn to communications over non-DSL
through LinkedIn and establish with market shares below 10pc, upgrade the nation’s cable connections than anywhere
a consultancy. still miss scale. In the infrastructure so it is able else in Europe,” Piercy says,
And as we become more Netherlands, high broadband to handle next-generation adding that his company is
environmentally aware, if just penetration is driven by telecom networks. UPC Ireland chief about to launch a 5.6Mbps
10pc of Ireland’s workforce and cable competition, and in executive, Robert Dunn, nationwide wireless broadband
opted to work from home one France by competition from says alternative platform product which relies on
day a week, this could have an local loop unbundling (copper competition is vital if the 872Mhz frequency licensed
enormous impact in reducing DSL) players. country wants to be brought by the Commission for
carbon footprint and helping to “Operators and regulators into the digital age. Communications Regulation.
ease traffic volumes. in Ireland should make a “This means making Magnet Networks boasts the
A report by Booz & Co found common effort to make consumers and businesses most extensive fibre-optic
that alternative platforms are broadband a success story and comfortable with changes and network in Ireland and the UK
taking off across Europe and Ireland an innovation leader in educating them about what and according to Mark Kellett,
that Ireland is one of the the field of broadband globally these new platforms mean in a the company’s chief executive,
leading players in this field, by 2012,” Ward says. sensible and helpful way. it is about to launch a 50Mbps
which will also be driven by To make this happen, People should not be afraid of broadband service using fibre.
TV, set to be a key driver of an upgrade of nationwide the technologies and be free “The killer app today is video
broadband data requirements. networks is required to to embrace them.” and the world is reaching an
In Ireland, for example, increase coverage outside big Dunn cites his company’s inflection point whereby the
wireless accounts for 30pc cities. Citizens should be made decision to introduce services amount of data being sent
of all 991,000 broadband more aware of various product of up to 20Mbps for ¤40 a around the world is growing
connections and this is offerings and investments month as a signal UPC has exponentially.
growing. in networks for sparsely responded to the marketplace “Broadband providers that
John Ward, an analyst with populated areas should be in bringing in choice. rely solely on reselling DSL are
Booz & Co, says the most supported with subsidies, Colm Piercy is managing going to be left in the slow
ideal landscape for platform according to Ward. director of Digiweb, which is a lane,” Kellett says.
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