EIRCOM is expected to begin trials on long-awaited broadband digital subscriber loop (DSL) technology in June or July along with other telecommunications operators, The Irish Times has learned.
The technology is expected to lead to the introduction of high-speed broadband services, including video and music on demand, along existing phone wires before the end of the year.
Following the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation's recent decision on unbundling of the local loop - or the last section of telephone access to people's homes - Eircom and other telecommunications operators must now come up with an agreed definition on services which will be provided off a broadband, or DSL, platform.
Up to now other operators have expressed concern about Eircom's slow progress on holding trials of the new technology. Last February, Eircom invited other operators - as required by the regulator - to join in its trials. It is understood most operators expressed an interest but there has been no development since.
An Eircom spokesman said: "Eircom is in the process of completing technology trials for the end-to-end working of DSL in order to iron out glitches and arrive at an appropriate level of functionality."
Once this process is complete, other operators are expected to be invited to work with Eircom on trial services by the end of June or early July.
Meanwhile, Eircom's plans to work with a British-based video-on-demand service provider are still on course despite Yes TV's recent announcement that it was delaying its planned stock market flotation. Eircom has been working with Yes TV for nearly a year to design a range of high-speed broadband services for Eircom clients, including video and music on demand. Recently Eircom signed an agreement with British-based digital entertainment company, Future TV, to employ its services for the duration of the DSL trials, which are expected to begin among a sample Eircom audience in the Dublin area this month.
Yes TV said it had altered its flotation plans due to market uncertainty. It was also forced to include a clarification in a newly published prospectus about its relationship with NTL, the cable operator. Since the publication of the original prospectus, Yes TV learned that NTL would not be renewing its DSL trials in Cardiff.
Yes TV has also been required to clarify its position with respect to Kingston Communications, the network operator in Hull, which is carrying Yes TV's video-on-demand services. After June, there is no guarantee that the commercial agreement will continue.
A commercial launch of the Eircom DSL service is expected "towards the end of the year" when just one high-speed content provider will be chosen to roll out the DSL services to Eircom customers.
