Eircom has announced a number of initiatives which it says will improve broadband availability and increase take-up.
It says an extra 100 telephone exchanges will be enabled for broadband by next year, while the company is also committing to taking all broadband orders placed in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. Eircom says 120,000 extra phone lines will be able to support broadband as a result.
Eircom will also use WiMax technology next year to overcome problems with broadband over some lines. WiMax, a wireless technology, will be used to supplement existing DSL services in the five major urban centres.
Eircom chief executive Rex Comb said these initiatives completed the 'commercial and cost effective roll-out of broadband in Ireland'. He added that the company was 'looking forward' to an upcoming Government announcement to address 'the remaining customers'.
Eircom has held its wireless licence for four years and the introduction of Wimax now is seen by the industry as an admission that too many lines were failing over traditional broadband delivery methods.
This afternoon consumer lobby group Ireland Off-line welcomed the introduction of Wimax, and said: 'we especially welcome the Eircom's use of their wireless licence which has been unused for the past number of years, but we ask that they allow rural communities to reuse Eircom spectrum in areas where Eircom will not be rolling out broadband.'
Alto, a group representing alternative licensed telecoms said it would like to see eircom allow other operators to use its network to reach people in remote areas.
In a separate move today, sports channel Setanta is to simulcast live and exclusively via broadband to Eircom customers.
