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Broadband Internet Access In Ireland




Broadband is now available in areas near DSL-enabled exchanges from several companies other than Eircom. These include BT Ireland , Smart Telecom , Clearwire , Magnet Networks and UTV Internet . Several wireless services such as Irish Broadband , Lastmile Broadband and Digiweb also exist in metropolitan areas, and some towns around the country.

ADSL appeared in Ireland in 2002. By December 2005 around 50% of all homes could in theory get ADSL. By April 2006 90% of households will be "broadband capable", according to Eircom, the largest Broadband provider in the Republic of Ireland. These figures are the source of much debate in Ireland, as other factors mean that possible connections are far lower (those living within the limit of a broadband-enabled exchange may be connected to a non-enabled one, also as of August 2006 about 8% of lines are not suitable for DSL due to distance or because they use line-share technology).

Critics of the state of broadband in Ireland complain of the poor availability, high prices and very low download caps.

In 2005 Northern Ireland became the only European geographic region with 100% broadband coverage and one of a few outside Asia, this was achieved by a partnership between the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and BT Northern Ireland.


BT

  • 1024/128 - 10 GB limit - €20 per month

  • 2048/192 - 20 GB limit - €30 per month

  • 3072/384 - 30 GB limit - €40 per month

  • Not including line rental



CLEARWIRE

  •   512/128 -  5 GB limit - €24.95 per month

  • 1024/256 - 10 GB limit - €39.95 per month

  • 2048/256 - 20 GB limit - €49.95 per month

  • Clearwire shape their traffic under their fair use for all policy



DIGIWEB

Wireless Offers
  • 1024/128 - 10 GB limit - €19.99 per month (including line rental)

  • 3072/512 - 30 GB limit - €35.99 per month (including line rental)

  • 5120/1024 - 60 GB limit - €78.65 per month (including line rental)



EIRCOM

Consumer packages
  • 1024/128 - 10 GB limit - 1 GB upstream limit - €24.99 per month

  • 2048/192 - 20 GB limit - 2 GB upstream limit - €29.99 per month

  • 3072/384 - 30 GB limit - No upstream limit - €48.40 per month (Static IP address for €50)


Business packages
  • 3072/384 - 40 GB download limit - €40 (excluding VAT) per month

  • 4096/384 - 60 GB download limit - €89 (excluding VAT) per month

  • 6144/512 - No limit - €169 (excluding VAT) per month



SMART TELECOM

Consumer packages (actual prices include line rental of €24.18 which is not included in the prices of other broadband companies (but is charged separately), and so has been removed for comaprison)
  • 4096/384 - No limit - €15.81 per month

  • 6144/512 - No limit - €20.81 per month



UTV INTERNET

  • 1024/128 - 6 GB download limit - €16.49 per month

  • 2048/192 - 12 GB download limit - €20.99 per month

  • 3072/384 - 20 GB download limit - €34.49 per month



NTL/CHORUS

First it is necessary to have at least Cable TV from NTL/Chorus for €21.49 per month
  • Broadband Value 1024/100 - 2 GB download limit - €19.99 per month

  • Broadband Starter 2048/200 - 16 GB download limit - €24.99 per month

  • Broadband 3072/300 - 30 GB download limit - €29.99 per month

  • Broadband Max 6144/512 - 40 GB download limit - €39.99 per month - free wireless router