Broadband in Ireland: Broadband types, products and reviews.
July 2008 Note: These details are well over a year out of date. This page will be updated in the next while.
Broadband Types
DSL Broadband
This is broadband over copper wires. The most common form of broadband in Ireland and most other countries. It allows you to still get incoming calls and make outgoing calls while a broadband signal is also sent down your phoneline. The further you are from your phone exchange, the weaker the signal and the slower the speed. Most DSL connections will offer a minimum of 1Mbps. You pay more if you want higher speeds but even the best lines in this country can manage 6-7 Mbps at most. Some companies like Magnet offer another form of DSL called ADSL2+ which can bump the speeds to 12Mbps or higher but again you pay a very high price for it.
Cable
This is broadband over the same cable or cable network that brings you your TV signal. You don’t need a phoneline to get broadband with this service. NTL and Chorus are the main providers of cable broadband in Ireland. NTL makes you sign up for their TV service, if you want to get their broadband service.
Wireless
Companies like Clearwire and Irish Broadband offer services where all you need is a small device plugged into your computer to receive a broadband signal. No wires and no aerials are needed for their basic services. For those that don’t want a phoneline, this will save you paying over €25 just for a copper line. Their higher-end services do require an antenna on the roof. Other providers such as Digiweb also offer wireless services and again you need an antenna on the roof but do not need a phone line. Some wireless services start at €20 a month with antenna installations starting at €99.
Wireless – 3G
Using a small USB modem, you can receive relatively fast broadband, no matter what your location. Ideal for business people and college students who come home on weekends and for the summer. Many wireless and telephone broadband blackspots are able to receive 3G signals so if your line fails the broadband test, look at getting 3G.
Wireless – WiMax
A still developing wireless technology, Irish Broadband have been claiming to be offering it of late. Their equipment supplier has it alright, not sure has it actually been deployed to their customer base. eircom will start deploying WiMax to the 5 main cities around September/October 2007 to counter the threat from cable competition. You will still need to be a landline customer and HAVE to fail the broadband line test, before they set you up with the WiMax service.
Not Broadband
Some providers claim to supply “broadband” services or broadband-like services. Unless something is an always-on, two-way service with proper service and without lag, then it cannot be called broadband.
Satellite Internet
This is high speed Internet. It is expensive to install for two-way with install prices going from €500 all the way up to €2k. Speeds range from 512k down 128up to 2mb down (theoretical) and 1mb up. Other services (rotten mutton dressed as lamb) offering “satellite broadband” but are in fact one way broadband services, where you have to upload over dialup which will either cost you per minute or cost you the price of a flatrate dialup package, which only allows you 150-210 hours per month usage.
ISDN
Faster than dialup, very expensive service which is still offered to people who want broadband. A complete rip-off where are you are charged the price of two phone calls if you want to use the 128k version of this.
Explanation of Terms:
LLU:
Broadband over a phoneline with equipment owned by someone that is not eircom. BT, Smart and Magnet have LLU services.
Download speed:
This is the speed when you download from the Internet. Download speeds range from 512k to 8mb
Upload speed:
The speed you send information to the Internet. Important to have a good upload speed if you use VOIP technology or upload a lot of photos to websites.
Cap/Download Cap:
The amount you can download per month. For a regular family, a download cap of 8gb would suffice. For someone that downloads a lot of music, films and TV programmes then caps nearer to 30gb might be necessary.
Contention Ratio:
The amount of people sharing one connection. Generally ratios are 48:1 or 24:1. As not everyone is constantly uploading or downloading from the Internet but starting, stopping, reading, starting etc it means that an Internet connection can be efficiently shared amongst many people. This is a contention ratio. The lower the ratio the better.
While broadband is becoming readily available in cities and towns in Ireland it is still not as available in rural locations as can be seen from this map of Ireland. Each yellow circle indicates where you can get broadband:
To find out what type of broadband is available to you, you can log on to the Government broadband website http://www.broadband.gov.ie. Choose your location and it will tell you what type of services are available to you. Depending on your location it will list various types of broadband.
DSL (broadband over phone line)
Majority now are 6 month contracts.
75% of population can avail of this. You keep your number. Pay for line rental separately unless in a bundle.
eircom are planning to upgrade the following exchanges in 2007 and have said another 300 will be upgraded after 2007 but “after” is a very loose term.
DSL Products without bundling
Please note I am including packages where you can get the broadband package without having to buy the telephone package too.
BT Ireland
BT (basic modem included for free)
Notes: €45 extra for wireless modem
€45 Connection fee. Fee is waived for customers who are transferring their Broadband service from eircom, Perlico, UTV, Imagine, Gaelic Telecom, Digiweb DSL and have their own modem.
Basic Package
Speed: 1Mb download/128Kb upload
Contention: 48 : 1
Download Cap: 10GB
Price: €20 per month
Value Package
Speed: 2Mb download/256Kb upload
Contention: 48 : 1
Download Cap: 20GB
Price: €30 per month
Deluxe Package
Speed: 3Mb download/384Kb upload
Contention: 24 : 1
Download Cap: 30GB
Price: €40 per month
eircom
Free connection, free wireless modem.
eircom broadband home starter
Speed:1Mb download/128Kb upload
Contention:48 : 1
Download Cap: 10GB
Price:€24.99 per month
eircom broadband home plus
Speed:2Mb download/256Kb upload
Contention:48 : 1
Download Cap: 20GB
Price:€ 29.99
eircom broadband home professional
Speed: 3Mb download/384Kb upload
Contention: 24 : 1
Download Cap: 30GB
Price:€ 48.40 per month
eircom business
eircom broadband business plus
Speed: 4M/384k
Download Cap: 60G per month
Price: €89 (ex VAT)
eircom broadband business enhanced
Speed: 6M/512k
Download Cap: Unlimited
Price: €169 (ex VAT)
Perlico Broadband
€ 49.99 connection fee. Free modem. Wireless modem costs extra.
Perlico Always On Broadband
Speed: 1Mb download/128Kb upload
Contention: 48 : 1
Download Cap: 6GB
Price: € 16.99
Broadband Plus
Speed: 2Mb download/256Kb upload
Contention: 48 : 1
Download Cap: 12GB
Price: € 24.99
LLU Products
Theoretically you can now retain your number when you move to these LLU services. previous to 2007, this was not possible.
Smart Telecom
Prices include line rental at €24.18. Standard modem included for free. Wireless modem is extra.
Smart Broadband 3mb
Speed: 3Mb download/256Kb
Contention: No contention
Download Cap: None
Price: € 39.99
Smart Broadband 5mb
Speed: 5Mb download
Contention: No contention
Download Cap: None
Price: € 44.99
Magnet Business Broadband (ADSL2+)
€165 connection fee. Line rental extra at €15 a month ex vat. Magnet have stopped offering a consumer product and they no longer offer their TV service except to those on fibre.
Speed: 3Mb download/256Kb upload
Contention:
Download Cap: None
Price: € 50
Speed: 4Mb download/512k Upload
Contention: No contention
Download Cap: None
Price: € 75
Speed: 6Mb download/512k upload
Contention: No contention
Download Cap: None
Price: € 115
Speed: 8Mb download/1Mb upload
Contention: No contention
Download Cap: None
Price: € 149
Speed: 10Mb download/1Mb upload
Contention: No contention
Download Cap: None
Price: € 165
Wireless Products
Digiweb
Antenna needs to be installed on your roof/chimney. No landline is needed. €99 installation fee.
Digiweb Metro Lite
Speed: 1MB down 256kb up
Contention: 40 : 1
Download Cap: 10GB
Price: € 19.95
Digiweb Metro
Speed: 3MB down 512kb up
Contention:36 : 1
Download Cap: 30Gb
Price: € 34.99
Digiweb Metro Plus
Speed: 5MB down 1mb up
Contention: 20 : 1
Download Cap: 60Gb
Price: € 78.65
Digiweb Metro Xpress
Speed: 8Mb down 2Mb up
Contention: 20 : 1
Download Cap: 120Gb
Price: € 163.35
Clearwire (broadband in a box solutions)
12 month contract. €39 connection fee.
ClearStart
Speed: 512kb
Unknown
Download Cap: 5GB
Price: € 24.95
ClearFreedom
Speed: 1Mbps
Contention: Unknown
Download Cap: 10GB
Price: € 29.95
ClearPerformer
Speed: 2Mbps
Contention: Unknown
Download Cap: 10GB
Price: € 49.95
Irish Broadband
Ripwave is broadband in a box. No installation needed. No phoneline needed
Irish Broadband Ripwave
Speed: 512k 128k up
Contention: 40:1
Download Cap: None
Price: € 18.95
Connection fee: € 37.50
Ripwave Plus
Speed:1Mb download and 256k upload
Contention: 40:1
Download Cap: None
Connection fee: € 37.50
Fixed install products.
(Needs antenna.) Free connection. 12 month contract.
Breeze 2Mb
Speed: 2MB up 2MB down
Contention: 24 : 1
Download cap None
Price: € 35.99
Breeze 3Mb
Speed: 3MB up 3MB down
Contention: 24 : 1
Download cap None
Price: € 48.40
3G Wireless
Vodafone 3G Broadband
Speed: Speeds of up to 1.4Mbps
Contention: Unknown
Download cap: 5GB
Price: €14.99 for the first three months and €29.99 thereafter
Modem price: €99 for USB modem
Contract: 18 Month contract
3 3g broadband
Speed: Speeds of up to 3.6Mbps
Download cap: 10GB
Price: €20 a month
Modem price: €129 for USB modem
Contract: 12 month contract
o2 3g broadband
Speed: Speeds of up to 3.6Mbps
Download cap: 10GB
Price: For non 02 customers €20 per month and €40 per month thereafter
Modem price: €69 for USB modem
Contract: 12 month contract
Cable Broadband
NTL Broadband
No connection fee, wireless modem is € 49.99
You have to sign up to their TV package.
NTL Broadband Value
Speed: 1MB down 100Kb up
Download cap: 2GB
Price: €9.99 first 3 months, €19,99 thereafter
NTL Broadband Starter
Speed: 2 Mb down 200Kb up
Download cap: 16GB
Price: €14.99 for first 3 months, €24.99 thereafter
NTL Broadband
Speed: 3MB down 300Kb up
Download cap: 30GB
Price: €19.99 first three months, €29.99 thereafter
NTL Broadband Max
Speed: 6MB down 512Kb up
Download cap: 40GB
Price: €29.99 first three months, €39.99 thereafter
Chorus Broadband
Connection fee is is € 49.99, wireless modem is free.
Cablenet Broadband Value
Speed: 1MB down 100Kb up
Download cap: 2GB
Price: €19.99 a month
Cablenet Broadband Easy
Speed: 2 Mb down 200Kb up
Download cap: 16GB
Price: €24.99 month
Cablenet Broadband
Speed: 3MB down 300Kb up
Download cap: 30GB
Price: €29.99 a month
Cablenet Broadband Plus
Speed: 6MB down 512Kb up
Download cap: 40GB
Price: €39.99 a month
If you have a query about broadband, may I suggest you post it on the Boards.ie broadband forum, your questions in the comments will not be answered.
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[...] mortgages, etc.). Using different metrics makes it impossible to directly compare each product. The same goes for broadband. It’s hard to directly compare pricing [...]
WARNING: I’ve had VODAFONE 3G broadband for over a year now so contract should be able to be cancelled, but I’ve done all they told me to do to get it cancelled. Of course I had to send it in writing. I’ve rang and e-mailed, no response. They are still charging me. I haven’t used the internet in a couple of months, I don’t even live in the country anymore. I don’t know what to do. No matter what, don’t ever do direct debit with any company. I thought Vodafone was a serious company, but it’s all a scam. 40 euro a month is expensive for internet anyway, but especially when you’re not using it. Very upsetting!
Hi me again. Just worked out phone line will remain the same but nbb give you a new phone number and use the existing line. So therefore you have to stay with them to keep your landline! The new number belongs to them and you cannot transfer it. (difficult if you change address in the future for the next occupant). I guess this must mean that they buy the right to the phone line from eircom for a set time. Any one know any more? Thanks for the vodafone info re 3g I still haven’t renewed mine yet as Im still trying to find an affordable replacement to it. One more thing worth mentioning nbb offer 200 or 300 free minutes per month but no international numbers.
Hi Mollie. How come you still need to have a phone line? Isn’t the whole premise of satelite internet that you don’t need landline? If you want to keep your old number try just renting it from the exchange and putting a divert on it to the new number that NBB give you. I used to do similar when I had my business landline number diverted to a mobile when I moved house a few years ago. Then you could cancel your connection to house. As far as I remember it cost about €15 per bi-monthly period and of course, there was no line rental to deal with.
I am also sussing out NBB as it goes. Am moving to a rural location where I think I’ll have to resort to satelite. Sounds like might not be good option to go with the TV bundle? Pity, so annoying to have to put up seperate sky dish also. Would love to hear how you got on with NBB, I’ll let you know if I find out anything more myself.
Hi there. Just came across this website – very informative. I have recently moved to Wicklow Town and am trying to decide on the best broadband package to get. Here at work we are on Eircom, which in general is very reliable, but I am aware that is as a business customer. I don’t presently have a landline in my flat, and am not that pushed on getting one and paying the line rental. Can anyone recommend the best option? Is wireless broadband without a phone line reliable, or am I best to opt for broadband via a fixed line?
I am living in the Burren, county Clare. I am looking to get broadband, but can’t get it via local radio wave co. , have poor mobile phone coverage and am left with sattelite as my only option. I have already contacted Digiweb, but would like to know about other companies to contact to compare costs. Many Thanks.
has anyone had problems in trying to get a phone upgrade with 02
i’ve had problems with them lately
i was given two different dates for a upgrade
the first was february 2009
and the second was to check back some this month
We have been using digiweb for over a year in Cabra and are happy, 35 euro including a phone connection. BUT they charged us for a whole year after 12 months tho so we didn’t get to shop around. Also tried going down to the one meg connection before but had problems. seem cheaper than BT and Eircom tho.
NB: Three seem to be by far the cheapest/fastest 3G option – I just checked the website and the modem is now free on an 18 month contract or only 50 euro on the 12 month.
BT Ireland Support
I’ve been with BT for 18 months… about a month ago they increased my speed and lifted the cap. I’d never gone over the cap anyway so it wasn’t any real bonus. The speed increase was though.
Three days ago BT Ireland decided to restict my broadband speed to 10k per second citing their ‘Fair Usage’ policy. There was no warning, no call, no email..
They use outsourced indian support which having used this before I have to say…it really stinks to high heaven…If you are thinking of broadband and are a novice then remeber this… as you’ll find yourself saying ’sorry can you repeat that ” incesantly during a support call….the support person is ONLY interested in getting you off the phone and chalking up another resolved issue (wheter its resolved or not)…
my GF told me when I got home from work after complaining that some Indian lady had called and had assured her ecverything was now okay.
However she also said she wasn’t sure though as due to the general language barrier she could barely make out what the lady was saying and had to ask her to repeat herselagain and again… see what I mean. The lady seemed to be in a hurry to end the call now that my GF had accepted that all was back to normal. There was no talk through, and the speed was certainly NOT okay. This lady representing BT Ireland had lied to a customer.. an outright lie too!
What I don’t understand though is why they can’t give a warning. BT Irelands autoresponder seems to have no problem communicating with me… so whats wrong here?
I haven’t received an actual cap (and they won’t reinstate one) or tell me what the word ‘reasonable’ means. They won’t give a date when service will resume, which basically means they are attempting to bully.
Now I work in search marketing and I estimate that each negative blog or comment loses them .5 of a signup… so 1,000 blogs and aritcles…here I come! small fry indeed! And welcome to the impact of the blogosphere BT.
So I’ll do what the rest of you should do… you are small compared to BT Ireland but the support guy doesn’t want customers leaving because of him. So, I’ll cancel the direct debit on Monday, and I’ll email them to tell them it will be reinstated when I get my speed back (I have a ‘fair usage policy’ on my bank account ) and we’ll see what happens next whilst sorting out another supplier…. and if everyone restricted their money during a support issue… things would move a s*&t load faster I can tell you…
So BT Ireland… get your sh*t together … or get lost! (that’s a technical term) we’ll call this 999 left to go shall we… an article counts for 3…okay! BTE Damien…keep up the good fight ehh?
Belated thanks for this no-nonsense guide. I found it very useful a couple of years ago when I was trying to choose a provider.
The best wireless 3G option is, from my opinion O2.
I have it for 8 months and had never had any problem. The speed is very high (7.2Mb/s).
I tried three during 1 week before getting O2 and that was very low.
O2 is more expensive (25 euros per month with 7.6Gb data allowance) but is a lot better.
hi am just wondering if i can get a company to install a DSL cable and pay for it so ill have faster broadband speeds, is there any one who knows a company i would love to hear.
We’re trying to get a house in Teeranassig, near Inchigeelagh but we really need broadband and our only option is the satellite. Could someone with experience of satellite broadband tell me if it really works? What company is best? We don’t mind the starting cost but we really need a fairly good and reliable broadband, otherwise we won’t be moving there.
Cheers.
I am living in the midlands and don’t have access to land-line broadband. I have been using the internet through a phone line and the download speeds are very slow. Recently I subscribed to 02 Mobile Broadband because I thought that I would get close to broadband speeds.
In actual fact the download speeds are slower, even though the signal that I am receiving is nearly always “good” or “very good”. Has anyone else experienced this problem and is there anything that I can do about it?
I noticed that Thomas (post April 7th 2009) is getting speeds of 7.2 mb/s. I would be happy with even half that speed. Any suggestions? Cheers.
@John Brown
John, the reason (and primary reason) your speed is slow and will probably remain slow for the forseeable future is one of location.
O2’s service runs on microwave (just like mobile phone technology). My guess is you probably get a crappy mobile signal too.
With ADSL you are in no better shape. ADSL requires that you are a safe (with 3km) of the exchange. Again my guess is that you fall outside this.
If you have a large bank balance you might think about satalite? or failing that what about wireless from ice broadband or Irish broadband… asuming you have good line of sight with the transmitter.
Otherwise I’m afraid you physical location is the issue and not the technology in question. It is frustrating but unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be any way around this.
mickelodian
Thanks for this Damien – great idea.
Could you update your prices to mention that the 20 euro option is no longer available from Digiweb (only 35 euro for 5M now).
They upped our payments without an option of going back – so happily using Imagine now… Could you also update the free modem peice mentioned above for 3 Ireland?