Broadband cable service launched in Dublin

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Cable company NTL began deploying broadband always-on cable access in certain areas of Dublin in February.

But Internet users shouldn’t get too excited yet — the installation is only in certain parts of west Dublin. At present, only customers in Dublin 16, Dublin 22, Dublin 24 and Dublin 6W can avail of the service. Others will have to be more patient. 

The broadband access is achieved through coaxial cable rather than a telephone line, so there are no call charges.

For the cable modem to be installed, the property must be on a two-way system. The standard installation is a one-way system, which must be upgraded to cater for the cable access. 

According to spokesperson Sandra Eaton, the installation will be ‘demand driven’. To ascertain demand, the company is carrying out surveys in different areas.

The product is aimed at small and home office users, Internet gamers and residential users. 

Upgrading the existing lines is expensive, Eaton explained. However, the company does not install the two-way cable when new housing estates are being built. NTL says this is due to the cost of installing the two-way system; in the current climate, ICT and telecommunications companies must be economic.

‘They need to see a return for their investment,’ she said. ‘Not everybody wants or needs a cable modem.’

The always on cable modem currently costs users €25 a month for 128kbit/s always on, and €35 a month for the 512kbits/s line. The modem can be bought for €166 or rented for a monthly charge. To get the cable modem installed, it will cost about €92, but customers who signed up before March 1st 2002 could avail of free installation and a monthly rental charge of €5 for the modem.