eircom have announced that they are to upgrade another 319 exchanges in Ireland. They have not given a timeframe for when these will happen though. They previously announced they were upgrading another 100 exchanges this year. Again, no news when this year they’ll be enabled. This will bring the number of exchanges to 900 or so that will be getting broadband which is about 96% of working lines. It still doesn’t mean every line connected can handle broadband because some lines are really poor in standard but 450 more exchanges are now going to be enabled under new eircom compared to old eircom. This is a very positive move and I’d glad to see them once again say that the demand excuse was bullshit. Enabling another 450 exchanges shows it to be the case. Let us hope they give the missing 4% plus those who have crap copper some kind of wireless service to make up for this.
Again and I’ll put it in bold. There is no timeframe for when he below exchanges will be enabled:
Carlow
Ardattin
Hacketstown
Killerig Cross
Leighlinbridge
Milford
Cavan
Blacklion
Loch Gowna
Mountnugent
Redhills
Tullyvin
Clare
Ballyalla
Ballymacahill
Bridgetown
Broadford
Bunratty
Clarecastle
Cooraclare
Crusheen
Doonbeg
Feakle
Kildysart
Kilfenora
Kilkee
Kilkishen
Kilmaley
Kilmihil
Quin
Rockmount
Tulla
Whitegate
Cork
Araglin
Ballincurrig
Ballycondon
Ballycotton
Ballydesmond
Ballyhooley
Baltimore
Banteer
Boherbue
Burnfort
Castletownshend
Churchcross
Clonakilty
Clonbanin Cross
Donoughmore
Drinagh
Dungourney
Eyeries
Freemount
Glanworth
Glengarriff
Glenville
Goleen
Inchigeelagh
Kealkill
Killinadrish
Kilnamartyra
Knocknagree
Knockraha
Liscarroll
Macroom
Mallow Substation
Minane Bridge
Rossmore
Rylane
Schull
Donegal
Ballygorman
Burtonport
Carrigans
Churchill
Cloghan
Creeslough
Glencolumbkille
Kerrykeel
Killea
Kincasslagh
Lettermacaward
Linsfort
Malin
Narin
Pettigo
Rathmullen
Rossnowlagh
St Johnston
Dublin
Naul
Galway
Abbeyknockmoy
Ahascragh
Aughrim
Ballyconneely
Ballygar
Ballymoe
Barnaderg
Belclare
Carnmore
Castleblakeney
Clonbern
Cregmore
Duniry
Furbo
Kilconly
Kilconnell
Kilrickle
Kiltormer
Kiltulla
Laurencetown
Leenane
Lettermore
Menlough
Miltown
Rosmuc
Tubber
Williamstown
Woodford
Kerry
Anablaha
Ballybunion
Ballyferriter
Ballylongford
Camp
Caragh Lake
Castlegregory
Dromartin Cross
Duagh
Fenit
Glenbeigh
Headford
Kilgarvan
Knocknagoshel
Miltown
Mounthawk
Moyvane
Rathmore
Scartaglin
Sneem
Kildare
Athgarvan
Ballytore
Brannockstown
Calverstown
Coill Dubh
Kildangan
Kilmeage
Mageney
Moone
Rathmore
Kilkenny
Coon
Cuffesgrange
Glenmore
Gowran
Inistioge
Kells
Kilmoganny
Loughboy
Oldtown
Paulstown
Piltown
Tubrid
Tullogher
Laois
Ballacolla
Ballickmoyler
Borris In Ossory
Clonaslee
Rosenallis
The Heath
Leitrim
Carrigallen
Cloone
Drumsna
Keshcarrigan
Kinlough
Leitrim Village
Rossinver
Limerick
Ardagh
Athea
Ballingarry
Ballyhahill
Ballylanders
Bruree
Croom
Drumcollogher
Effin
Fedamore
Hospital
Kildimo
Kilfinane
Knocklong
Murroe
Obriens Bridge
Oola
Templeglantine
Longford
Aughnacliffe
Lanesboro
Louth
Clogherhead
Edmonstown
Hackballscross
Togher
Tullyallen
Mayo
Ayle
Ballyglass
Ballyhean
Barnatra
Bekan Cross
Belcarra
Bohola
Bonniconlon
Kilmaine
Knock Airport
Knockmore
Laherdane
Liscarney
Murrisk
Partree
Meath
Beauparc
Carlanstown
Carnaross
Clonmellon
Crossakiel
Drumconrath
Hill Of Down
Kildalkey
Kilmainham Wood
Lobinstown
Moynalty
Newtown
Monaghan
Annayalla
Broomfield
Newbliss
Rockcorry
Scotshouse
Tullynahinera
Offaly
Ballinagar
Ballycumber
Collins Lane
Five Alley
Killeigh
Moneygall
Mount Bolus
Mucklagh
Rahan
Roscommon
Arigna
Athleague
Ballinlough
Ballydangan
Ballyforan
Castleplunkett
Cloonfad
Cootehall
Cornafulla
Croghan
Curraghboy
Donamon
Fourmilehouse
Hodsons Bay
Kilmore
Kiltoom
Loughglynn
Monksland
Tulsk
Sligo
Ballinafad
Ballintogher
Calry
Dromore West
Gurteen
Rosses Point
Tipperary
Ardcroney
Ballinderry
Ballingarry
Ballyporeen
Birdhill
Borrisokane
Cappawhite
Clerihan
Cloughjordan
Donohill
Drangan
Dromin
Emly
Golden
Gortnagowna
Grange
Gurtnahoe
Hollyford
Lattin
Lorrha
Mullinahone
Newcastle Village
Portroe
Puckane
Rathcabbin
Waterford
Ballyduff
Ballymacarbry
Bonmahon
Cappagh
Lemybrien
Rathgormack
Westmeath
Ballinahowen
Castletowngeoghan
Collinstown
Crookedwood
Horseleap
Lismacaffrey
Milltownpass
Moyvore
Multyfarnham
Rathowen
Wexford
Barntown
Beechgrove
Blackwater
Bree
Clonroche
Curracloe
Foulksmills
Hollyfort
Kilmore Quay
Kilmuckridge
Taghmon
Wicklow
Coolboy
Donard
Glenealy
Kilbride
Kiltegan
Shillelagh
I have to agree…. this is not as easy as “doing something about it”…
You of all people know that Damien ;).
@John Tell you? Get off your hole and find out yourself. Plenty of examples of people in the middle of nowhere that did something more than sending missives to politicians and today they have broadband.
@Nick It’s not easy, nothing is as easy as leaving a comment on a blog expecting someone else to do something.
@Damien
🙂 Yes, I agree…. but, you have to admit, Eircom announcing this, then getting the funding based upon this announcement, then doing nothing about it (again) really is terrible.
@John
Two friends gave up with eircom, and got a deal with Smart Telecom for 30Mbit bandwidth which they now share in a community.
There are plenty of wireless equipment providers around. Start with http://www.irishwireless.net
What funding did eircom get?
I understood Eircom got new funding for these exchanges. By your response, I assume that was rumor?
I think what Damien is suggesting (please correct me if I’m wrong) is for people without broadband to go out and join forces with others in their local community and investigate the possibility of creating their own ‘wireless’ broadband service either by joining forces with an existing company or creating a new company with new infrastructure and purchasing bandwidth off someone.
Easier said than done and a bit idealistic surely but I have seen it done before. I tried it myself and got nowhere. The local community was too small to support such an undertaking. I’m sure this is the way it is for a lot of the smaller communities and thats why we are at the mercy of the broadband powers that be.
You can’t expect everyone to go out and start their own broadband company.
Just a few random points/observations having read through the threads above.
Im one of those folk who like Damien suggested got off my arse and did* something (*still doing it). Lots and lots of leg work, home made leaflets, dropped door to door, got concrete names on paper, started engaging different wireless suppliers and finally got a small time supplier to provide a just about average service. Unfortunately theres so many factors at play with the various wireless providers (many still want the low hanging fruit like small housing developments, minimum numbers of names like 100+ etc – despite being awarded gov. funding in different ‘rural bband enabling schemes [rural my arse]). So in reality a good stable service for many truly rural areas will only be realised by Eircom.
Ive been on thier case too – like to think Ive spoken to every rep at least once by now. Ive done the politician, TD blah blah whole nine yards thing and trust me, theres nothing doing in that regard. As a private enterprise they will upgrade only when they decide to – regardless of what you do or say.
Ive headed up every household to register on their site hoping it would improve their trigger list for our exchange – nothing.
But you can call any of their eircom.net lines and ask when is your local exchange be upgraded and they work off a 3 month projection list, which gets updated every month. Bad news is most of the time they just tell you your exchange is not on the last, and to call back next month. Ive been doing it for over a year.
Finally Im told a few months back, yes were on the list. Couldnt believe it. But while keeping onthier case month after month Im seeing it move out also month by month.
My biggest prob with Eircom is, unlike most private enterprises where business decisions are made based on certain weighting criteria, their rollout of exchanges being upgraded are made in a very mysterious way. Ive tried to get answers directly, indirectly, via TDs etc etc, can they just tell me what criteria they use then I can do another pile of leg work – whatever it takes, but its like a black hole. Even the supervisors I spoken with havent a bulls notion.
Anyway… with all that out of the way – the sad fact is that having had an amazing decade of prosperity we truly are, to our utter embarrassment, a third world country when it comes to broadband penetration.
Rant over…
Alan,
Great Post. Others feel your pain.
I do not know if this will add to it, or take away…. but anyway, here is a new list for you:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/thenakedmvp/archive/2008/11/05/updated-list-of-eircom-broadband-exchanges-to-be-enabled-q4-2008-to-q3-2009.aspx
Thx a million Nick, Yeah were listed in the Nov-Dec 08 batch, yet Ive spoken to the engineer resp. for the upgrade and Im told its not going to happen until at least Jan. Looks like they are behind – again 🙁
For those who will never be on a list or are so far down the possibility of a 12 month contract in the Interim ‘might’ be an option with this crowd
http://www.nbb.ie
Note: I have not used or know anyone that has used these guys but it appears to be the cheapest two way sat option around. Worth a look perhaps. Anyone used them?
Honestly… avoid Satellite at all costs. It is horrible <<< technical term 🙂
Have used SkyDSL one-way in the past and to tell you the truth, as limited as it is, it served a purpose (I run a web design business from home so BBand access isnt a luxury – its 100% vital for me to survive).
Actually, I’ve heard of 1 or 2 people who have used nbb.ie and are happy enough. Wouldn’t hurt to try it if you’re desperate.
Thanks for the new list Nick. If it goes by what is there, we in Duagh are third in the list, but it probably won’t go that way!
What is interesting though is the rumours that Eircom might be up for sale again. Despite BCM (the Australian company in charge of Eircom) denying it, a new chairman and fresh rumours abound, so lets hope that if it does happen, it doesn’t affect those that are still waiting. Saying that, 5 times in less than ten years says something about the state of the company.
http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/1030/eircom.html
We got sick of waiting for Eircom and did it ourselves.
The other factor you need to consider is the time of year. Dec/Jan are the two worst months of the year wrt Eircom pulling all engineers off existing projects to deal with faults from bad weather. Fingers crossed for a calm Dec/Jan.
We got sick of waiting for Eircom and did it ourselves.Any one need help setting up a WISP http://www.SCCBroadBand.org
i was tolt in jan 2006 that i would have broadband in three months
it is now 2008 i still dont have broadband i am from croom co limerick
now i am told i will have ti at the end of dec some how i dont think we will
In all honesty I have to admit that there seems to be some movement in Eircom’s rollout. They have upgraded at least 4 exchanges in rural parts of North Tipp in the last few months. It’s not much but it’s better tan fuck all….
This website provides you with all the latest information on eircom broadband roll out and will answer any specific questions you have regarding broadband in your area.
http://www.broadbandatoz.ie/
i was on the phone to day with eircom and i was told it could be another three months before co limerick gets brodband more like 12 months
my exchange has been very active with busy little engineers and lots of Eircom vans outside for last few weeks. spoke to and eng and he says only a matter of 2-3 weeks now. Bring it on.
Which Exchange Alan? 🙂
Its the BREE Exchange, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Eircoms Arrev they use is: BER. Id like to think I helped push it up the rank. A year or so ago I canvassed door to door to get names on paper of those who were genuinely interested in Bband, so Ive grown that list overtime and was able to register all these numbers on the Eircom check your line facility. Id like to think it helped act as some sort of trigger mechanism. That, and the 10 million calls I made over the last year to Eircom 😉
no im told February. Could be 2nd Feb – could be 27th Feb. Hmmmmmm (foot tapping rather impatiently).
Things not moving quickly enough for me. Question to Nick Whittome: I posted earlier about NBB.ie and you said avoid Sat at all costs. Can you explain a little more on why please nick? Im having to reopen this whole idea again – unfortunately 🙁 As a side note I see that same crowd NBB dont have a website anymore… mmmmmmm v. suspicious.
Hi All,
I was just talking to someone in Eircom about upgrading the longwood/newtown exchange. basically they are saying that as it currently stands our exchange is scheduled to be DSL upgraded this year, but as you all know an EIRCOM schedule means didly… so to ensure the upgrade happens everone in the longwood, ballin, cullentry, cullentra and surrounding areas should contact eircom on 1901 and register your interest for Broadband. it doesnt mean you are going to sign up with Eircom, it just gives them an indication of the number of people interested in BB in the area. we get enough… we get an upgrade!!
So Please… MAKE THE CALL!! get our exchange upgraded!
Cheers
Gary
Having contacted Eircom many times about the upgrade for Duagh, the engineers saying the end of Jan/Feb and the list saying the end of Nov/Dec 08, I bit the bullet again and emailed them.
After waiting a whole week, I got an apologetic email saying their systems where having problems (not just the phone lines then!) telling me that we have been moved back to July this year.
I just wish they, as a company, would just stick to timescales they provide, and not move the goalposts. We are now moving house to an area with broadband, as I now need to concentrate my online business as a main income as work is slowly drying up.
It is a shame as Duagh is a smashing village, and more people would stay if facilities where available to them.
After months of waiting, I emailed eircom again over their constant moving of time scales and got yet another reply. Here it is, from their ‘press’ team:-
Apologies for the delay in our response. Having consulted with our network engineers, I can confirm that the current provisional schedule for the enablement of the Duagh exchange is for the period July – September this year. I must stress that this broadband roll out schedule is a provisional schedule and is therefore subject to change. Enabling an exchange involves multiple processes including network upgrades, installation of DSL equipment, possible systems upgrades and a testing phase. All of these phases must be co-ordinated and completed before an exchange is ready to be enabled. Considering this, the provisional schedule is reviewed continuously. While I cannot provide an exact date at this time, I will continue to monitor the progress of the Hackballs cross exchange and provide you withan update over the coming months. Please check http://www.broadbandAtoZ.ie for regular updates on broadband rollout across the country.
Kind regards,
The BroadbandAtoZ Team
So still nothing new but at least I got a reply off them this time.
Whilst adding the above post, I have just had an email from a friend to check out the 3 website. They have been awarded the National Broadband Roll Out Scheme and they have been charged with providing Broadband services to those without it (me included). The website is here :- http://www.three.ie/nbs/index.htm
I have just checked Duagh on the map and we are down for an upgrade. You can also check the map yourselves to see if you are on there as well. Check this address for further information:- http://ve.bizmaps.ie/threeireland/Pages/Public/NBSPublicPage.aspx
I have just contacted them for a timescale for Duagh, and will let you all know what they say about it. Hopefully it will be good news for us all soon.
Lets just hope they don’t follow Eircom’s route and never keep to a timescale….
I’m looking at moving to Duagh but the internet thing is an issue. I understand eircom broadband should be ready by end of 2009 but in the meantime is there anyone out there using 3G mobile internet? I need to access email and do research for work from home and wonder if this will suffice.
Tnx
Aisling, at the moment I use the Vodafone wireless modem, but only get the equivalent of dial-up speeds (56kbps) and I am central in the village. From what I understand, there is no 3G signal in Duagh, so whichever subscriber you choose (Vodafone, 02 or 3) you will be stuck with the low speeds.
As long as you don’t need high speeds for videos and uploading large files, it is adequate enough, and as long as you don’t mind a couple of seconds wait for emails to load then it should suffice.
I have had to give up moderating and maintaining websites as the speeds where far too slow, so I am hoping things improve, but as I said previously, if there is too much of a wait, then I will condsider moving in the New Year to somewhere that has an established broadband setup.
Still waiting for broadband in Leitrim Village, time scales been changed and moved every time for 3 years.
Eircom are a poor joke, I fully believe the engineers take as long as possible to complete these upgrades to ensure they have work on for the forseeable future.
I have spoken to several eircom employee’s and they acknowlged how slow the progress has been.
I have no faith in this exchange being enabled at any time in the next 12 months after the countless delays, it’s like living in a third work country the way things move here.
Nearly 2010 and no reasonable cost or service of broadband avail in a medium size town on outskirts of Carrick on Shannon
Well after almost giving up waiting, I finally have a decent broadband service here in Duagh.
Despite yet another disappointing email from Eircom which they told me they are pushing Duagh back yet again to Oct/Dec 09 (and quite frankly I would assume that would get pushed back again because I believe they havn’t the money to do the work), and Vodafone not getting back to me over their antenna up the road, I got online yesterday with 3.
As part of the NBB scheme, 3 have enabled Duagh with the wireless modem, and I get quite a decent speed. (speedtest.net gave me a 3.1 MB/s score) so I am really happy.
I am now playing the online games I could not do before and can finally get my online work done.
Hats off to 3 but pants down to Eircom.
So if you live in Duagh, 3 works here now and are worth looking at!
@ John I’d be confident for once that Eircom will get to you by the end of the year. Have you tried Groupnet in the meantime?
I just found out about the National Broadband Scheme being rolled out by 3 – go to their website http://www.three.ie and on the bottom left hand corner there’s a link about this. You can type in your address and it will tell you if it’s available in your area. Apparently they try various options to enable you to receive broadband (satellite, modem, receivers etc) and it either doesn’t cost you anything to install or it’s very cheap because it’s part of the government scheme to get broadband delivered countrywide
Hi Guys,
I have tried 3, O2 and groupnet, none of them were able to offer and acceptable service as cover was poor or not avail from Groupnet(O2 and 3 worse than dialup in area), If I could be sure Eircom would even have it enabled by end of this year that would be somthing to wait for.
Otherwise I will have to go and get Satelite as just totally fed up with it at this stage, the cost will be near €800 to install and wont be good enough for gaming due to the latency…Very disappointing to be still talking about this after all this time. These kind of issues are really holding local business and working individuals back in this country.
The contract should have been taken off Eircom a long time ago, has anyone seen the August exchange upgrades? Only 2 for the whole country, that is shambolic, looks as though they are just winding the whole operation of upgrading up at that rate…
For those that care…..
I gave up on Eircom, and the two shambolic Wireless providers that were in Murroe. I have been a big part of the process that got http://www.munsterbroadband.ie/ into Murroe / Boher and I tell you what, they are a BRILLIANT wireless provider. For my home I have a 3MB/1MB link on wireless that is solid, and for work a 8MB/4MB link which is also outstanding. 10 – 20MS ping rates.
Wireless, done right (which I grant you is rare), is amazing….
Oops…
Damien, can you fix the link in my last post…. it should be:
http://www.munsterbroadband.ie/
Sounds good Nick, looks like a great service alright, I have just contact Groupnet as I hear they have installed a new mast in the area which may provide an acceptable service.
I hear that the speeds from this are fairly low but anything would be better than dial up at this stage as have no confidence in Eircom right now.
We have broadband eircom 200 metres from us from the Drumshanbo exchange but because we are in the leitrim village exchange we cannot get Broadband with a 3 rating. I have rang all the mobile broadband companies and was advised that we could only get 2 rating with mobile so we are as well to stick to dial up. We are definitely at a disadvantage here. I cannot access anything with a photo or video on it with dial up, its so slow and a waste of time. From banking, to booking holiday, to checking out special deals in the irish market or any other market. We still have to pay for our landline but with none of the benefits like Skype, U Tube, etc. What a croc this country is. Eircom could run a line from my house to the house 200meters up the road and I could have broadband and imagion all business I could do on line. The Government seem to want rural communities to stay in the dark ages or else pay 800 euro to a local guy to provide broadbrand where eircom could do it for a fraction of the cost.
Latest update, but have heard this so many times in correspondence with Eircom so would expect to be adding another 5 years on top of this time frame.
Eircom confirms Leitirm village to be broadband enabled later this month « Go Back
Apr 05 2011
Eircom says it will be another few weeks before broadband is enabled in Leitrim Village.
It follows concerns by local Fianna Fail Councillor Francie Gilmartin that a number of businesses were planning to pull out of the town if the service was not put in place as a matter of urgency.
Eircom had previously indicated that it would be March when faster internet access would be available however a spokesperson says this has now been pushed back until the middle of this month.
Councillor Gilmartin says, while he welcomes clarification from Eircom, he hopes there will be no further delays.