Ryan assembles broadband advisory team

05-02-2008

by Stephen Errity

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan has named the members of a new forum that will advise him on next-generation broadband networks in Ireland.

The 'International Advisory Forum on Next Generation Broadband Networks' will meet in Dublin on 26-27 February to advise the Minister on the optimum role for the Government in the development of next generation broadband in Ireland.

Among the issues they have been tasked with considering are whether the Government should fund the development of next generation broadband or facilitate the rollout of private sector networks. Recommendations will also be issued on whether a fixed or wireless solution would be better, or whether favouring one approach is the correct course of action at all.

The forum will consider and critique a draft policy paper being prepared by Department officials, which proposes the use of existing State infrastructure in support of the faster rollout of state-of-the-art networks by market players. After its consideration by the experts, the paper will be published for wider consultation.

The members of the forum are: H. Brian Thompson, executive chairman of Global Telecom & Technology; Ken Carter, a senior consultant at wik-Consult in Germany; Martin Cronin, the CEO of Forfas; Isolde Goggin, an independent consultant and former chair of ComReg; Dr. Michael Nelson, a senior professor at Georgetown University in the US; Dr. Frank Sanda, CEO of Japan Communications Inc. and Tony Shortall, an economic advisor to the European Commission.

Minister Ryan's initiative comes after several recent efforts by the opposition to highlight the issues surrounding broadband in Ireland. Last week, Fine Gael unveiled a 10-point plan to boost speed, service availability and broadband take-up throughout the country, while earlier in January, independent senator Shane Ross introduced a bill to boost the quality of Ireland's internet infrastructure to the Seanad.