REGIONAL AUTHORITY CALLS FOR SPEEDY ROLL OUT OF NATIONAL BROADBAND SCHEME
“The South-East Regional Authority welcomes the announcement by Mr. Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources that “3”, a Hutchinson Whampoa Company, have been selected as the Preferred Tenderer for the National Broadband Scheme” stated Cllr. Michael Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of the South-East Regional Authority.
The South-East Regional Authority has been to the forefront regionally in recent years with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and broadband – from setting out the broadband and associated requirements of the region in policy frameworks to the physical construction of broadband infrastructure throughout the region.
“Broadband is one of the key pieces of infrastructure required for economic and social development, particularly in the context of the development of a knowledge economy with a focus on research and development. Broadband availability has also been identified as critical to ensuring that balanced regional development, a key objective of the National Spatial Strategy and successive National Development Plans, is achieved,” said Cllr. Fitzgerald.
The National Broadband Scheme will deliver broadband to those areas of the country currently unserved. “The long-awaited National Broadband Scheme must be rolled-out without further delay” said Cllr. Fitzgerald. “It is imperative that the contracts with “3” be signed as soon as possible and that broadband be delivered to rural areas without further delay to ensure that the present “digital-divide” between urban and rural areas does not widen further,” he concluded.
ENDS.
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:20:24 GMT
