Eircom extends wireless service

Eircom plans to extend its wireless broadband service to 24 cities and towns as part of an overall €150 million investment in its networks.

The company yesterday announced a joint initiative with the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) to locate between 20 and 30 "hotspots" in 24 cities and towns in 18 counties.

Hotspots allow access to wireless internet and e-mail on broadband networks using equipment like laptop computers and "blackberries". Access is available anywhere up to 50 metres from an individual hotspot.

The centres that will benefit are: Galway, Dundalk, Mullingar, Cobh, Navan, Cootehill, Ennis, Wexford, Athlone, Clonmel, Swords, Blanchardstown, Ballina, Sligo, Tralee, Kilkenny, Carlow, Tullamore, Limerick, Bray, Westport, Letterkenny, Naas and Castlebar.

Local chambers of commerce in each of the centres are backing the project.

The 480 hotspots will more than double the number of Eircom wireless broadband access points to over 900.

Eircom will provide the access points free. Customers using its service can pay for it through subscriptions or scratch cards.