An tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Éamon Ó Cuív ag seoladh clár leathanbhanda digiweb i gCarna. Sa ghriangraf leis tá Eoin Ó Riain, Foilseacháin Read-out, Adrian Erangey, Bainisteoir fhorbairt gnó an tsolárthraí leathanbhanda Digiweb, agus Seosamh Ó Cuaig, Comhlairleoir condae agus ball tofa Údarás na Gaeltachta. Grianghraf: John Carlos - Lá - 3-2-2005

Hailed as "the beginning of the broadband revolution inConnemara," businesses in Clifden and Carna have welcomed the new speedy Internet access, as a boost for teleworking, tourism, and industry.
Minister for Community. Rural and Gaeltachi Affairs. Eamon Ó Cuív TD. launched the initiative on Friday, as part ol the € 4OO.OO0 project for 10 rural areas around the country.
"You can get Broadband access if you are living or woorking within five kilometers of an Éircom DSL exchange. or if the town has a population greater than i .500 people. But we're building a national network similar to a mobile phone transmitter. which will bring broadband to area that were never going to see it." said Adrian Erangey of Digiweb. who are supplying the service.
In both Clifden and Carna, fixed wireless access base statinns have been constructed on the highest building in the area, which serve those living in the five kilometres radus. A number of locals are already connected-up.
Mr. Ó Cuiív's Department put out tenders on the project which would serve border and western communities, and Digiweb were awarded the contract.
Key to their success was the wireless technology used. which can bring the service to remote places. In addition. subscribers do not even need a phone line to avail of it.
For € 79.00, Digiweb insta11s a small radio receiver outside the house or business, which must be in a clear line of sight of the base station (obsticles such as trees and buiIdings will block the signal). Individual businesses can connect up to 15 computers to the network. And, at a minimum Of € 39.00 per month, users have the benefit of high-speed Internet access (faster than regular diald-up or ISDN), always on connection, video conferencing, and many other associated benefits.
"This is the beginning of the broadband revolution in Connemara," said Minister Eamon Ó Cuív, "This type of telecommunicatins infrastructure allows members of rural communities to interact on an equal footings with people in all other areas of the country without having to leave their own commonities. The potential for business and training is enormous. It is my belief that Broadband access will play a large role in enabling these CLÁR areas to grow and thrive."
Business owners in Clifden have certainly welcomed the new service.
"It's the only way to attract business, so it's a big boost," said Catríona O Toole. a member of Clifden Chamber of Commerce. "People could come out here and combine a great lifestyle with work. Everybody says they would love to live in Connemara. and now they could live and work here, and not feel as if they are removed from the rest of the world."
Alex Xuereb and Maurice Ó Scanaill. of West Vet, had already applied to receive Broadband access before they knew of the Digiweb service, as they found that a lot of business was done through the internet.
Maurice said that it was not unusual for him to send results. digital pictures. and x rays by e-mail. so Broadband would be very welcome in West Vet.
Boston-born. Ellen McDonoogh. is a computer consultant, and also publishes the monthly local paper "Connemara View" .
"I email files to Limerick (where the paper is printed) for each monthly publication. But, it takes longer to email the files than to print 10,000 copies, it actually takes about three times as long."
She spoke of general dissatisfaction locally over the current service being supplied by Éircom, and strongly welcomed the broadband to Clifden.
She also hoped that the facility would encourage teleworking, which was simply. working away from a company office.
"Clifden is lacking industry, and depends on tourism. But, if it can get more industry because of Broadband, it would make all the difference, even through creating a few jobs."
Carmel Murray, Chairperson of Connemara Tourism, also welcomed Broadband. "This is a huge development, especially as improvements in technology are slow to come to these parts."
In Carmel's own case. 99 per cent of reservations to her B&B are made on-line. She and her children also use the Internet as a source of information, but she sees some problems still existing for those who are not living in the town centre.
"The system needs to be improved to help those not in the line of vision, as soon as possible. Clifden is in a valley, with hills to both sides, and the 5km range will limit the service considerably."
While welcoming Digiweb to Carna, County Councillor, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, expressed some disappointment that the service would not benefit the industries in Cill Chiaráin, seven miles away.
Cllr. Ó Cuaig said that 90% of the farmed salmon of Ireland was marketed there. Also located in the area was Arramara Teoranta, the seaweed factory which exports products to Thailand, among other places, and Aras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim, a branch of NUI, Galway.
However, he said that at the last meeting of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Board, of which he is a member. € 103,000 was allocated for connecting Cill ChiaráŸin to broadband, via phone lines. This would mean that people in Carna would have a choice of Digiweb (line of sight connection) or DSL.
Digiweb can be contacted by phoning 1800 285828.

By Dearbhla Geraghty - An Cúradh Chonnachtach 4-2-2005

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