David Stanton
Question:170 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to prioritise wireless broadband technology as a means of rolling out a broadband infrastructure in the regions. [6335/03]
Written Answers - Broadband Technology.
The current projects being grant aided by my Department for the trailing of wireless local area networks technology, normally referred to as WLANs, are to assess the potential of the technology. The trials are being undertaken by: Rococo/Trinity – Dublin; Amocom – Cork; Digiweb – Dundalk; O2; Esat BT.
The locations proposed for the trials are: digital hub, two projects with different operators; Trinity College; Cork city and Mahon area; Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee; Westport and Sligo; conference-exhibition centre, RDS; transport terminus, ferry terminal, Dún Laoghaire; hotel hotspots – one each in Dublin, Limerick and Galway.
The trials are due for completion by the end of the year. WLAN technology is set to be rolled out commercially by a number of operators in the Irish market this year.