Almost three in 10 internet users have been refused access to broadband, a new survey published by the telecoms regulator has revealed. Laura Slatteryreports.
The report by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) shows that broadband access woes continue for 28 per cent of internet subscribers, who said they had attempted to subscribe to a broadband service but were told it was unavailable to them.
Some 45 per cent of home internet users had broadband access in the final quarter of 2006, but broadband availability is uneven throughout the State.
In Dublin, 68 per cent of home internet users have broadband access, but this figure falls to 43 per cent for the rest of Leinster, 36 per cent for Munster and 30 per cent for Ulster and Connaught.
Out of the 32 per cent of narrowband users surveyed who had not considered moving to broadband, 22 per cent said it was because there was no form of broadband available in their area, while a further 9 per cent said it was too expensive.
Labour Party communications spokesman Tommy Broughan said the report showed starkly "the continuing massive problem of unavailable broadband services" and he called on Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey to address the issue.
Mr Dempsey is expected to announce a new broadband initiative shortly.
Broadband lobby group Ireland Offline accused ComReg of trying to bury the difficulties endured by consumers and businesses by not highlighting the survey's broadband access findings.
The research was conducted among 1,001 adults by Amárach Consulting during November and December 2006.
