A study by broadband provider Magnet to examine how superfast broadband connectivity influences internet use, has revealed surges in the consumption of Netflix and RTÉ Player.

As part of the study, Magnet fitted out 120 apartments at The Grange in Stillorgan with a 1Gb broadband connection, delivering 10 times the speed of the fastest available broadband in Ireland.

Magnet said the superfast connectivity enabled residents to download 100 songs in three seconds, watch 200 Netflix movies simultaneously or upload 200 family photos to Facebook in one second.

The Project Leap study showed residents’ use of internet was 150 per cent higher than in a conventional home broadband environment, with a rise in the level of streaming and downloading of music and movies.

The study revealed a sharp jump in the use of RTÉ Player (251 per cent) and Netflix (233 per cent).

Broadband

Meanwhile,

Eircom

this week set out its proposed solution to the forthcoming National Broadband Plan, which aims to bring best-in-class high-speed broadband to rural Ireland.

The solution enables speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (1,000Mb), the fastest speed in the country.

The company showcased a trial it has been piloting in Belcarra, Co Mayo, highlighting the transformative impact the 1Gb broadband speeds have had on the area.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said delivery of high-speed broadband to rural Ireland was a key part of achieving and ensuring economic recovery reaches every community in Ireland.

Eircom chief executive Richard Moat said the rollout of high-speed fibre broadband to rural Ireland is the modern equivalent of electrification.

“If successful in winning the National Broadband Plan tender, Eircom will invest hundreds of millions of euro alongside the Government to roll out the best broadband technology available right across rural Ireland,” he said.