Irish alternative telco Magnet Networks has launched what it claims is the country’s first video-on-demand (VOD) service, writes electricnews. The new product is being distributed over the company’s high speed broadband network and will carry video content directly to customers’ homes via their set-top boxes. The announcement comes hot on the heels of an earlier statement from UK-based Lovefilm, which plans to offer its own VOD service in Ireland next month, having paid EUR3 million for DVD rentals firm Screenclick.com.
In November 2005 Magnet Networks signed a ten-year contract with network operator ESB Telecoms for the rights to use the company’s national fibre-optic infrastructure to offer ADSL2+ broadband services to users. Under the agreement ESB is providing connectivity between the cities of Galway, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Portlaoise to Magnet Networks’ central facility in Dublin. With work already well underway on the project Magnet is launching triple-play services to 100 customers in the Dunboyne Castle estate, County Meath, with the aim of extending triple-play to all its customers by March.