Broadband boost for 600,000 homes

OVER 600,000 homes will be able to avail of broadband and telephone services through their television cable service by the end of this year under a major upgrade by Chorus NTL.

The company says it is investing over €90 million to accelerate the upgrading of its national network and provide combined broadband and telephone services in Athlone, Carlow, Portlaoise, Sligo and over three-quarters of Dublin.

In Dublin, over 80,000 homes will be upgraded this year to receive broadband and telephone services.

The announcement was welcomed by Minister for Communications Éamon Ryan, who last week unveiled a package of measures to extend at least a basic broadband service to the 30 per cent of the State which currently cannot obtain fast internet access.

“I’m confident that this announcement will help stimulate competition in the marketplace and provide consumers with increased options. It will also provide the necessary funding to continue the widespread availability of broadband which is central to our economic recovery.”

The Chorus offering, which will cost €24 a month, is likely to provide increased competition for the market leader, Eircom.

The company is also expanding its combined broadband, telephone and digital television service. Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Cork and two-thirds of cabled homes in Dublin have been upgraded to receive this service, which is being extended to customers in Athlone, Carlow, Portlaoise, Sligo and more areas in Dublin.

Broadband consultant Damien Mulley welcomed the increase in broadband speeds to 20Mb but said sister companies in Europe were moving to speeds of 100Mb.

Mark Coan, marketing and sales director with Chorus, said the company had improved its systems for fixing faults and handling complaints from customers. “There has been a dramatic improvement,” he added.