(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/the-lightwriter)
A new report from price comparison website Switcher exposes a significant divide in broadband speeds across Ireland, revealing that some areas experience connections up to 36 times slower than others.
Switcher analysed almost 27,000 consumer speed tests conducted between 1 August 2015 and 31 July 2016. The slowest locality identified was Legan in County Longford, with an average download speed of 1.98 Mbps. County Longford is the slowest overall, averaging just 7.25 Mbps—nearly 12 times slower than the national average.
By contrast, Dublin enjoys some of the fastest broadband in the country. The county average for Dublin was 44.85 Mbps, with the suburb of Drimnagh recording the highest local average of 72.15 Mbps. Other counties featuring among the fastest are Waterford, Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. Following Longford, the slowest counties are Leitrim, Roscommon, Monaghan and Mayo.
Ireland’s National Broadband Plan sets a minimum target of 30 Mbps for all citizens. Yet, of the speed tests examined, only 25% reported download speeds of 30 Mbps or higher, indicating that a large portion of the population still lacks access to the minimum speeds envisioned by national policy.
To put the disparity into practical terms: someone living in Legan would take over three and a half hours to download a two-hour HD movie, whereas a resident of Drimnagh could complete the same download in under six minutes. That dramatic difference affects everyday life and can influence property values, educational opportunities and the viability of local businesses, says Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.
There are signs of progress in parts of the country. Some locations recorded “lightning” speeds, reflecting investments in higher-capacity networks. The highest single speed measured in the dataset was 989.15 Mbps in Ballon, County Carlow—evidence that gigabit-capable connections are possible where fibre-to-the-home infrastructure exists.
“The speed test results underline the digital divide across Ireland,” Clarke comments. “We see exceptional speeds in areas where fibre has been rolled out to homes, but many communities remain far from these levels. Slow broadband remains a daily frustration for thousands of people.”
What are your thoughts on Ireland’s broadband speed divide? Let us know in the comments.