ComReg bemoans slow pace of broadband rollout

Ireland’s telecoms regulator ComReg has warned that the implementation of a cohesive national ultra high speed broadband network could take three to five years to complete, in which time the Republic is in danger of being left behind in the smart-economy race. In an interview with the Irish Independent, ComReg commissioner Alex Chisholm said of the proposed next generation broadband (NGB) document, published yesterday by the body, that the timely rollout of very high speed broadband networks ‘should not be taken for granted’, given the multi-million deployment costs involved. Mr Chisholm went on to say that the watchdog would do everything in its power to facilitate cooperation between operators in their plans to roll out high speed networks capable of connections speeds of 25Mbps and above. ‘We’re very open to new approaches on pricing and other issues in order to enable speedier rollout,’ he said.