Minister Pledges To Bring High
Speed Internet To All Schools Next Year
Dublin, Wednesday,
16th July, 2003
Dermot Ahern T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and
Natural Resources, today welcomed a far reaching report for the
promotion of broadband services and for getting Ireland
online.
Getting Ireland Online, a report from the Telecoms Strategy
Group (TSG), was presented to the Minister today. The TSG was formed last
February in a unique partnership between industry and
Government to develop a strategy for development of the market
for broadband and identify any potential obstacles. All the major
telecommunications service providers, as represented by the
IBEC Telecoms & Internet Federation and ALTO, the
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as
well as the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance, were
members of the Group.
One of the key recommendations of the report is the delivery of
high speed Internet access to all schools in the country next
year.
Minister Ahern said: The report is very clear on the need to
deliver broadband to every school. I am determined this will
happen next year. I am considering financing this by means of a
levy on telecoms services or through a joint Government/
Industry initiative involving the telecom operators and the
wider ICT sector. I intend to make a decision on that in
September.
We are all clear on the massive advantage for education, pupils
and staff once we have broadband up and running in every
school. As a research tool and a teaching aid it will prove of
enormous value. By giving the next generation broadband, we
will make a massive step forward in delivering on the
eEconomy.
Minister Ahern said: This Report is very clear about the need
to put the customer first. Too often, we have
focused on the technology, while many people still fail to see
its potential relevance to them. I welcome this Report as a
breath of fresh air.
The TSG estimates the potential size of the Irish market for
broadband to be up to 179,000 subscribers. It believes that
there could be 125,000 customers for broadband within a year,
corresponding to 9% of all households or 3.2% of the total
population.
The TSG has concluded that competition will be a main driver of
market development.
Key recommendations of the TSG Report include:
-
The rollout of broadband into all schools (including special
needs schools) and all public libraries to be completed by
end-2004. Schools to be encouraged to make their facilities
available for training to local communities.
-
Agreement to provide broadband service in a locality when
there is a certain number of customers. This is an important
step towards broadband access in more remote or sparsely
populated areas.
-
Establishment of a new public information website to provide
independent advice and support to domestic consumers and
businesses
-
Accelerating the implementation of Government online
services, as well as incentives for citizens to deal online
with national and local Government. Motor tax payments,
passport applications, driving licence applications/renewals
and planning applications are examples of everyday activities
in this respect.
-
Easier high speed internet access in all new housing estates
via dedicated cabling along road and pathways in all new
housing estates.
Planners, architects and the construction industry will be
targeted with information to encourage them to incorporate
this into all new developments.
The Chairman of the Telecommunications & Internet
Federation and Co-Chair of the TSG, Dr George Young, noted:
Broadband is a key enabling technology with the potential to
transform exchanges of information, services and goods. There
are considerable social and economic reasons why it has a
critical role to play in meeting Ireland's objective of
creating a high value knowledge-based economy. It's not just
for big business. Broadband is about education, entertainment,
film and video, music, gaming and information-sharing at a
local and community level. Whether it's schools communicating
with parental bodies via email, or sports clubs creating online
notice boards for games fixtures and training sessions for all
their members, or movie fans downloading new trailers,
broadband has the capacity to save time, increase efficiency in
sending and getting information. It greatly enhances efficiency
for businesses - small and large
The report recommends several pilots projects at local
community levels to help increase awareness and understanding.
The Report also urges the telecommunications service providers
to make the business of signing up for broadband service a
great deal easier for the customer, including technical support
measures and post-sale back up.
Minister Ahern said: As a nation we are leaders in take-up of
new technology. We are enthusiastic in the take-up of
state-of-the-art mobile phones and TV services.
The facts are that 61% of adults have a PC at home, 47% of
adults have access to the Internet currently and 34% of
households do so; 90% of SMEs (small and medium business) have
a PC and 85% have Internet access. There is a ripe market for
broadband. The challenge now is to switch it on, by clearly
demonstrating its benefits. I welcome this significant
initiative whereby Government and industry are working together
to achieve that aim.
The TSG will submit its final Report to the Minister before the
end of the year. In that, it will focus on infrastructure and
regulatory issues and identify current blockages or other
matters which may be hindering the full blossoming of the
broadband market.
Click here to download
report.
ENDS
For further information, please
contact:
Richard Moore
Press Advisor
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-(01) - 678-2440
Fax: +353-(01) - 676-6161
OR
Tom Mc Loughlin
Press Officer
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-(0) 1-678-2441
Fax: +353-(0) 1-676-6161