8th August 2014

ICSA rural development chairman Billy Gray has expressed concern at the news of a possible price hike of up to €180 for rural broadband users as the government’s National Broadband Scheme expires.

“As reported in The Irish Independent, rural dwellers in Galway, Mayo, Cork and Kerry, Donegal, Clare, Tipperary and Limerick are now set to be hit with both price hikes and reductions in broadband speed,” said Mr. Gray. “In this day and age it is simply not acceptable that whole swathes of rural Ireland would be without quality and affordable broadband. It would be akin to the Irish government of the late 1960s announcing that it couldn’t afford to deliver electricity to all rural areas.”

“The government’s whole broadband strategy is a farce,” continued Mr. Gray. “We are now calling on Minister White to expedite the delivery of the new National Broadband Plan and to ensure that a high-quality and affordable broadband service is available to all rural dwellers.”