NOEL DEMPSEY, the Irish Minister for Communications, has set Irish broadband targets low enough to ensure his time in government achieves the worst high-speed internet connectivity among the original 15 European countries. Actually, Dempsey's targets are high enough to get Ireland to 14 out of 15 countries. Importantly, this tail ranking meets government targets. Should the Irish government want to reach higher, Damien Mulley offers a reasonable strategy.
Mulley suggests Minister Dempsey should:
Step One. Pressurise the Communications Regulator (ComReg) to set a deadline on unbundling the local loop.
Step Two. Tie renewal of government contracts with the dominant telco, eircom, to countrywide broadband targets achieved by eircom.
Step Three. Cede more power to ComReg along with clearcut goals tied to the term of service of the Regulator.
Step Four. Admit that any business in Ireland that operates outside of a large urban centre will not have broadband connectivity needed to ensure business viability.
Step Five. Accept the advice of Forfas, the Oireachtas and the Information Society instead of commissioning alternative research that establishes more favourable broadband metrics.
The Irish Department of Communications smacks down its critics by suggesting anyone who spotlights the dire level of broadband connectivity in the country is damaging the international interests of Irish business. It is fortunate for those companies that they have a balanced perspective on the glaring shortfalls related to operating in an underdeveloped infrastructure. For years, the solutions have been obvious. See Step One above.
Damien Mulley -- "Dial-up Dempsey Scores An Own Goal with His Latest Broadband Target"
