From RTE news:

Around 10,000 Eircom broadband customers in counties Cavan and Monaghan have been disconnected after a fibre optic cable was cut during a robbery early this morning.

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident at Scotshouse near Clones. Raiders cut cables before breaking into a small shop in the village.

700 telephone customers have also been affected.

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A spokesperson for Eircom said they are working to repair the cable and expect to have services restored by early afternoon.

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The first effects of France’s new law against internet piracy will begin to be felt as the new year begins. The law was passed after a long struggle in parliament, and in the teeth of bitter opposition from groups opposed to internet restrictions.

Illegal downloaders will be sent a warning e-mail, then a letter if they continue, and finally must appear before a judge if they offend again.

The judge can impose a fine, or suspend their access to the internet.

The Creation and Internet Bill set up a new state agency – the Higher Authority for the Distribution of Works and the Protection of Copyright on the Internet (Hadopi).
The law was backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy and the entertainment industry.

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Ireland is still trailing behind other countries in household broadband access

The latest data ranked Ireland at 20 out of a table 30 countries for households with broadband access in 2008, with almost 43 per cent using the high-speed internet connection.

Businesses fare slightly better, with more than 95 per cent of companies with between 10 and 49 employees with high speed broadband access, and from 99.2 per cent upwards for larger firms.

Ireland has a total of 950,082 broadband subscribers, as of June this year, according to the report.

While on a cost basis:

Average prices for broadband access in Ireland remain among the highest in the OECD area, while advertised speeds were among the slowest at the time the survey was carried out, the report found.

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According to Silicon Republic:

The company yesterday revealed three new speeds and price points – a 30Mbps service that will cost €42 per month, a 15Mbps service that will cost €32 per month and a 5Mbps service that will cost €22 per month.

This is a great boost to the broadband networks in Ireland. UPC plans to invest even more in the Irish broadband network.

Cable operator UPC yesterday confirmed it has so far invested US$1 billion in Ireland – of which US$400 million went into its network upgrade. As the company revealed new services of up to 30Mbps, it said its capital spend in 2010 will reach US$90 million.

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A large mulitmillion euro project is underway to provide 15 towns in Cork with broadband internet access.

Cork County Council is currently completing a 16 million euro contract to construct 110 kms of fibre optic cable in 15 towns throughout the County of Cork.

The Network is now open for business and Magnum Opus have been appointed on an interim basis to manage the network on behalf of Cork County Council. Their local manager is Brendan O’Sullivan who can be contacted at 01 6114061

The following locations have been selected:

• Bantry
• Blarney
• Carrigaline
• Charleville
• Cobh
• Dunmanway
• Kanturk
• Kinsale
• Fermoy
• Mitchelstown
• Ringaskiddy
• Skibbereen
• Youghal
• Midleton
• Passage West

This is a great step towards providing the entire County of Cork with affordable, high speed internet.

For more information click here: Broadband Introduction in Cork

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