New broadband forum established

The Government has set up a new advisory forum to recommend ways to implement faster "next generation" broadband services for internet users in Ireland.

The International Advisory Forum on Next Generation Broadband Networks, which is set to meet in Dublin later this month, is intended to advise Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan on a number of issues.

These include the roll-out of next generation networks (NGN) and the possible use of State infrastructure to provide such services.

NGN are the telecoms infrastructure upgrade that will provide consumers with video-on-demand, Voice over IP and other broadband-enabled services.

The former chairwoman of ComReg, Isolde Goggin; Martin Cronin, CEO of Forfás; Tony Shortall, economic adviser, European Commission; and Brian Thompson, executive chairman, Global Telecom & Technology, will be on the forum.

According to recent figures, there were almost 800,000 broadband subscribers in Ireland at the end of September 2007, including 88,000 mobile broadband subscriptions.

However, despite an increase in broadband subscribers in recent years, Ireland still lags many of its European counterparts.

Senator Shane Ross, who  introduced a bill to boost the quality of Ireland's internet infrastructure to the Seanad back in January, criticised the establishment of the new forum.

"This is incredible. Instead of a plan of action, the Minister has delivered yet another committee to look at the matter. When that committee reports, their recommendations won?t even be accepted. Instead, the Minister says their report will be published for wider consultation," said Senator Ross.

"We have had committees, commissions, and steering groups. Now we have a forum. Yet we already know what needs to be done. Instead of setting up talking shops, the Minister should support my Broadband Bill. It has targets for universal coverage and penetration. It establishes a National Broadband Network. It gives him the necessary power to enforce competition," he added.