A review by industrial development body Forfas has called for the establishment of a specialist broadband planning office to ensure the rapid delivery of the Government's new broadband investment initiative.
Forfas says the new office would coordinate the involvement of public authorities and oversee the development of the proposed Public Private Partnership model.
Forfas CEO John Travers strongly welcomed the Government's move earlier this month aimed at delivering broadband infrastructure to 19 towns, to be extended to 67 eventually.
Mr Travers said the proposed specialist office would ensure consistency in approach and planning and achieve economies of scale in the contracting of civil engineering works. It would also promote awareness and use of the technology by operators.
Forfas's updated review 'Broadband Investment in Ireland' says significant progress has been made in the last three years. It says the experience of large companies in the Dublin area is generally good, but the situation is not as positive for small and medium sized companies outside Dublin.
The review calls for a debate on the merits of splitting Eircom's network business from its retail business, thus allowing it to become a wholesale network accessible to all operators.
It suggests that this would also free Eircom's retail business from much of the current regulatory scrutiny.
Among other proposals are the introduction of flat-rate Internet access and the speedy passing of the Communications Bill.
