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IRELAND IS generally below EU averages on broadband speeds, according to the body responsible for providing statistical information to EU member states.
The Eurostat study into the broadband market in Ireland found the country has a relatively low take-up of fixed broadband but a better than average share of high speed connections (at least 30 Mbps). Ireland scores much better than the EU average in mobile broadband rates.
Standard fixed broadband covered 97.1 per cent of homes in Ireland in 2012, compared with the EU average of 95.5 per cent. At the same time, Next Generation Access capable of providing at least 30 Mbps download was available to 42.1 per cent of homes, compared to the EU average of 53.8 per cent.
In January 2013, the incumbent operator had a market share slightly below the European average (41.5 per cent compared to 42.3 per cent in the EU). Digital subscriber line (DSL) was the most common technology to provide broadband access, even though cable broadband connections accounted for a significant part of the market (27.2 per cent as opposed to 17.4 per cent in the EU).
The number of subscriptions, as a percentage of population, for fixed broadband was 24.6 per cent in January 2013, which fell below the European average of 28.8 per cent. However, the share of high speed connections (at least 30 Mbps) was higher than average (20.4 per cent compared to 14.8 per cent in the EU). Ultra-fast connections (at least 100 Mbps) accounted for just 1.4 per cent of all subscriptions (3.4 per cent in the EU).
In terms of mobile broadband, Eurostat found that third generation mobile broadband (HSPA) was available to 94.6 per cent of population in 2012 (96.3 per cent in the EU) and there was no 4th generation (LTE) availability. The take-up rate of mobile broadband was 78.1 per cent in January 2013, well above the average of 54.5 per cent in the EU.
Internet usage
The majority of the Irish population use the internet regularly, with 74 per cent of people using the internet at least once a week – which is up from 71 per cent in 2011, and above the EU average of 70 per cent. Frequent internet users (ie daily users) total 58 per cent of the population, up from 55 per cent in 2011 and above the EU average of 59 per cent.
The Eurostat study showed that the rate of people who have never used the internet has decreased since last year, from 21 per cent down to 18 per cent, which is below the EU average of 22 per cent.
The rate of regular internet usage amongst ‘disadvantaged’ people is 59 per cent,above the EU average of 54 per cent.
The most popular online activity cited by users in Ireland was accessing information and using online travel and accommodation services.
Some 63 per cent of individuals go online in order to find information about goods and services, a rate which is above but not far from the EU average of 62 per cent, and above last year’s rate of 53 per cent. People in Ireland largely make travel and accommodation arrangements online (above the EU average of 47 per cent). Among the least popular activities are selling goods and services online (13 per cent) and making telephone and video calls (29 per cent).
Computer skills
Ireland exhibits average rates compared to the rest of the European countries in terms of basic computer skills, with 65 per cent of citizens having some level of computer skills – close to the average for the EU of 67 per cent. In 2012, 31 per cent of the Irish people a high level of computer skills, up from 26 per cent in 2011 and above the EU average of 26 per cent.
Almost equally to the EU average, medium computer skilled people represent 23 per cent of the population, while 11 per cent of citizens have low computer skills, which is lower than the EU average of 16 per cent. The rate of people with low computer skills is practically unchanged since 2011.
In 2012 in Ireland, 8 per cent of enterprises recruited or tried to recruit ICT specialist, a figure in line with the EU average, and 52 per cent of them (4 per cent of firms) reported having difficulties recruiting such employees, well above the EU average of 40 per cent, making Ireland one of the countries experiencing the most difficulties in recruiting ICT specialists in the EU, along with Luxembourg, Sweden, the Netherlands and Malta.
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We can’t even get fixed line broadband in my area. Been told that so-called fibre broadband is to come to area in 2014, but no specific date on it. The mobile broadband is worse than §hit! Cant even download a 3 minute video without it stopping about 10 times.
Have you tried QSat?
QSat eh? “Can you see the sky?” No Niall I can’t, can you f*ck off?
Someone ought to tell Quinn to leave the advertising gigs to his hot wife
Word of advice. Don’t go near Imagine. Horrendous broadband and service. Pack of cowboys
Hi,
I hadn’t thought of them at all. When we moved to area we took out an 18 mth mobile broadband contract. This is up at the beginning of Dec this year. I’ll have a look at the Sat Broadband providers in the area and see what the story is. Reluctant to get tied into another long contract when eircom ‘might’ switch on the fibre broadband in the area early 2014… but then again it could be late 2014. We just don’t know.
I’m currently online watching the Olympics live from from London on our Boredband here in rural Mayo. The service provider said there’d be a little time lag but Isn’t it a marvellous thing altogether. I hope Katie Taylor does well.
We are behind, what’s new, we need a better infrastructure, and also we need LTE/4G This year, not in 2015
LTE is launching this year…,
Sure people mostly use it for porn anyways, but pretend its for ‘work’ or ‘research’
surprising how many people Don’t use the net for porn.
If there was any actual intelligent planning done by any irish gov. over the years, the fibre optic cables would have been laid, to service the whole country, at the same time that the motor way network was being developed. Yet another sell out of licences to private companies for a quick buck and a tasty back hander. Makes me sick. I’ve had 100meg here in Sweden for the last 6 years. Go figure. I know where my tax money goes.
Better than average is actually vary bad !!!
And then also at peak times the isp throttle the connection speed so it’s worse than dial up. Internet in Ireland is an absolute joke.
Depends on your ISP. My Eircom doesn’t slow at peak times
Just switched to sky broadband slowest I’ve ever had
Well there’s my hopes dashed!!
On UPC. 125 Megs down – 10 up. :)
I use virgin media. Very fast £22.50 a month
Im gonna tell Pierce Brosnan about that.
I’ve been with Sky broadband since they first rolled it out, and it’s been great. 20 mb/s and no problems.
Maybe in the cities and big towns !!! Not in the countryside :(
You can’t have it every way.
If looking at “stuff” on the internet has taught me one thing it is that you can have it every which way.
Not in Sharon’s case
Decent fixed line broadband is unlikely to become common place in rural Ireland. If it does it will cost a fortune.
Can you believe Brian Adams is still at number 1 with everything I do after 3 weeks?
In 10 weeks time you’re going to wish that song was never released
Surely the household tax will mean broadband will have to be delivered in rural areas instead of the crap dongles.
Have to agree. The fiber connection at my house is amazing. I get 1.2mb and can download an mp3 music file in 2 or 3 minutes.
I was told in 2005 that my local exchange would have high speed broadband by 2007- still no sign!
Rural Ireland doesn’t exist to eircom!
I live a mere 6 miles to Tralee & there is no high speed broadband in my area!
By simply using a 3g network to fill the gap is codology !
Britain already has 4g & 5g is around the corner!
Disgraceful! !
Are 4g Internet is launching this year… The same as the major uk providers (bar EE) and 5g is about 15 years away…..
What are you using as “the average”? Mean, medium or mode? Would be nice to have a link to the report you used to write the article.
I’m as pedantic as anyone on the internet, but taking people to task on the colloquial meaning of ‘average’ is just not worth my time.
I have 150mb/s + 200 free minutes of international/mobile/local calls from upc.
For €55 pm inc vat.
150mb is wasted at the minute though, pc crashed, i’m using a laptop with 50mb/s wifi card.
Normally 4.6 but just checked there and only getting 0.87 Kbps with vodafone here in Cork city suburb of rochestown. So not worth the €40 per month. Wish I could get UPC. Hope efibre is rolled out here.
I’m the same, Vodafone north county Dublin should be 8mb, im getting .52 mb at the mo
Some times .30 shocking
Used to have UPC in my old place, it was great
I like this Acceptable Usage Policy UPC have.
500Gb a month.
So 500 Gb downloading @ 150 Mbs speed is 7h 10m and you pay 50 euro for it.
50 euro for the 150 Mbs internet for 7 h. that a good price.
My harddrive blew a few months ago so I downloaded all my stuff again and I got a letter from upc about
“acceptable usage policy”
They are watching.
Sure every ISP watches how much data you use. They have too
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