Minister Welcomes Network Developments

The Minister for communications Noel Dempsey welcomed the decision of the European Commission to authorise the next phase of the Government's two hundred million Euro Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme.

The Programme has already brought high speed, fibre optic, telecommunications networks to twenty-seven regional towns and cities around Ireland and this next phase is to extend the networks to a further ninty towns in Ireland next year.

In a statement Minister Dempsey said: "The Commission decision means that construction can get underway as soon as the works contracts are signed. By May of this year I expect works contractors to be on site in Counties Louth, Cavan, Monaghan, Mayo, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath and Galway."

"Construction of networks in the other counties will follow very shortly thereafter".

The networks are to bring the next generation of connectivity to broadband users and will be managed by Limerick-based company e-Net.

The MANs benefit service providers and end users alike. Already they are introducing competition in the sector while growing the broadband market. At the same time they are providng choice and high speed telecommunications connectivity to existing and new broadband users," concluded Minister Dempsey.