BROADBAND PENETRATION in the Republic remained amongst the poorest in Europe during 2007, according to a twice-yearly scorecard published by a European broadband watchdog.

However, the level of access - which grew by 17 per cent in the State between the first and third quarters of last year - expanded at the third-fastest rate of 15 countries scored by the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA).

Ireland's rate of broadband expansion was third-fastest behind Greece and Belgium. Despite this, the Republic remained rooted to the bottom half of the ECTA league table, moving from 14th to 12th.