Old telecoms model of closed networks is over – Ryan

30 Oct 2009

The old telecoms model in Ireland of short-term private-equity firms owning incumbent networks has failed and a new model that paves the way for competition must be embraced, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan TD told this morning’s Dublin Web Summit.

Referring to the impending €130-million acquisition of Eircom by STT Communications, a subsidiary of Singapore Telecom, Ryan said the time for change is here.

“We have failed in Ireland – the short-term private-equity model in telecoms companies … it didn’t think long-term or big or investing in the state of networks we need.

“I hope that we may get some ownership that sees characteristics of networks have to be more open to work better.

“The old telecoms model of closed networks is gone – we need a different model and one that can deliver,” Ryan said.

Key tenets

In recent weeks, the Green Party made universal broadband provision by 2012 and 100Mbps broadband to every school in Ireland by the end of 2010 key tenets in the party’s agreement to stay in Government with Fianna Fail.

“We need to start in schools,” Ryan said. “We need to make sure every classroom has the ability to get under the hood of technology, tinker with it and that use energy less by using the internet more.”

By John Kennedy

Photo: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com