Digiweb, a small wireless company based in Dundalk, won the single biggest contract in the State's €20 million strategy to deliver broadband to schools

The firm, which was founded in 1997 by Mr Colm Piercy, was awarded a contract by the Government yesterday to supply 1,428 schools with broadband technology across the Republic.

Smart Telecom won a contract to supply 1,401 schools and Irish Broadband won a contract to supply 592 schools with broadband over the next three years.

As reported in yesterday's Irish Times, Eircom failed to land a contract to supply broadband to any school under the three-year Government strategy which will bring wireless, satellite and DSL technology into Irish classrooms.

However, the firm will provide routers - special computer systems that link together to offer broadband technologies - for all schools in the schools project. It will also supply wholesale broadband services to other operators who won broadband contracts.

The second-biggest fixed line telecoms company in the State, Esat BT, won a contract to supply broadband to 585 schools. Despite being beaten into fourth place, the company said it was happy with the result of the competition, which was good for competition and for other operators.

Two other companies secured contracts under the schools programme, Last Mile and HS Data. The firms will supply 215 schools and 87 schools respectively.

The schools broadband project will involve the installation of a mix of broadband technologies in schools, including wireless, fixed line DSL services and satellite broadband links.

It will provide all 4,200 primary and secondary schools in the State with an "always on" high-speed internet connection, which should enable teachers and pupils to use the internet more constructively as part of their everyday lessons in school.

Schools will be provided with a helpdesk facility and security features to help them manage the initial roll out of broadband technology over the next 12 months.

Digiweb, which won the majority of the broadband contracts, said in a statement yesterday that it was "refreshing and most welcome to see the Government award a contract of this scale and relevance across a number of experienced Irish providers - hopefully this is the start of a new trend".

ALTO, a lobby group which represents alternative telecoms operators in the Republic, welcomed the contract awards yesterday and said it should set a precedent when a new tender for all the State's communications requirements is launched later this year. This tender, expected to be worth over €100 million per year, should be brought to the market in May.