IT COMES AS NO surprise to the technology-aware for me to share the pain of mobile or satellite internet connectivity. Both of these technologies help shade in the map of Ireland, showing all-around broadband connectivity. This is deceptive map-making by government officials who should know better. It would be like saying all points in Ireland connect via motorway. A more accurate map would show big holes where no sustained capability of at least 12 megabits per second existed. You need that kind of data service to be truly able to run a small office in Ireland.
I speak from experience, having used over-the-air data services from O2-Ireland as my exclusive connection from home. On many days, I can get better than three megabits per second. I have taken my laptop into pubs and art galleries and connected without latency to Online Meeting Rooms by using a webcam and battery power alone. I have made most of my blog posts over-the-air from my Nokia E90 and have also uploaded dozens of Flickr photos directly from the phone that way. But these are survival technologies, not home office tech that you can depend upon.
And for as unbridled as mobile broadband has proven for me, its designation as part of the coverage map for broadband in Ireland is downright disingenuous and a serious flaw in the planning factors used by the Minister for Communications in Ireland.
Sent mail2blog from a Nokia E90 using O2-Ireland 3G Typepad services on the M8 in County Kildare, Ireland.
