Ireland's largest wireless broadband company today moved into the fixed-line market with a range of products it hopes will significantly increase broadband uptake.
Irish Broadband today claimed the move would enable it to reach more customers than any other provider in the State.
The service will be available to residential and business customers and enables the company to offer broadband to customers outside its wireless network.
New customers for the service must have an operating fixed telephone line, with prices ranging from €21.95 for a basic home package to €169.95 for its premium business package.
Irish Broadband, which is owned by National Toll Roads, offers its wireless service in most of the largest towns and cities in Ireland.
The latest figures show broadband availability and uptake in Ireland lags behind the OECD average with a penetration rate of 9.2 per cent. However, broadband subscribers doubled last year to 430,000 in the third quarter of 2006.
Some 62 per cent of medium-sized firms and 42 per cent of small firms use broadband - well below the OECD average.