The European Competitive Telecommunications Association, or ECTA, the association of alternative telecoms operators in Europe, has published broadband penetration figures for June, July and August of last year.
It puts Ireland 12th in a list of 15 countries in Europe - ahead only of Italy, Portugal and Greece. We are still far behind countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland.
The report says Ireland experienced the third highest growth in uptake in the region at 17%. ECTA says one in five people in Europe now have a broadband service.
In its report, ECTA says that the retail market share controlled by telecoms industry incumbents remains high at close to 50%, but it predicts this could move up to 80% of broadband lines across Europe or even close to 100% in many countries.
ECTA is pro-competition and encourages market liberalisation in the European telecoms market.
