Ahern opens Midlands broadband network
Communications Minister Dermot Ahern today opened the new €12m broadband network in the Midlands which is expected to go live within four weeks.
The Midlands project involved the laying of high speed networks in Tullamore, Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar and Roscommon.
Work on rolling out the 77km of network began last Summer and is now completed.
The network will be managed and sold on by a Limerick company E-Net to telecommunication companies who will sell on services to business, industry and consumers at competitive prices.
The network is part of the €65m national broadband initiative, which is 90% funded by the Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, is co-funded by the EU under the European Regional Development Fund.
The Midland kilometres reach for each of the towns is as follows:
Athlone - 17 Km
Mullingar - 18 Km
Portlaoise - 19 Km
Tullamore - 13 Km
Roscommon - 10 Km
Minister Ahern said: "A total of over 77 kilometres of ducting have been laid in the five towns, with over 400 access chambers located close to all of the commercial and business areas, technology parks, hospitals and schools in and around the towns."
Over the 15-year term of the contract, E-Net will operate as a wholesaler of access to the networks, and will offer a full suite of broadband products from ducting to high-level managed capacity. The company expects to employ up to 120 people both directly and indirectly on this project.
