Broadband options in Donegal

What companies are providing broadband access to the internet in your area?

I am from the North West of Ireland, in Donegal and at home we use UTV broadband. There are however many other providers available to people in my area. These companies are:

Broadband Terminology

• Broadband: Broadband is high-speed Internet access that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up access.

• DSL: DSL provide internet access using the wires of a local telephone network.

• Wireless: Wireless broadband connects to the Internet using a radio link between the customer’s location and the location of the service provider.

• Satellite: Just as satellites orbiting the earth provide necessary links for telephone and television service, they can also provide links for broadband.

• Cable: Cable modem service provides broadband using coaxial cables (like the ones for your TV).

• Fiber: Fiber optic technology converts electrical signals carrying data to light and sends the light through transparent glass fibers. Fiber optic technology is much faster than DSL or cable speeds but is not currently available everywhere.

• Dongle: A dongle is a small USB device that allows you to access the internet with a 3G mobile broadband connection.

• Hotspot: A hotspot is a location that offers wireless Internet access through the use of a router.

What type of telecommunications companies are they and what do they offer?

• UTV provide DSL 2mb or 10mb broadband, home phone(UTVtalk) and Freesat – a digital TV service from ITV and BBC with 140 channels.

• Imagine provide 3mb/7mb/10mb wireless/ fibre or DSL broadband and a phone service (free home phone comes as standard)

• Vodafone provide 8mb/24mb home broadband/ mobile broadband(dongle/wireless hotspot in home office), broadband on the go, as well as mobile phone and home phone services.

• Digiweb provide DSL/ Metro/ Satellite broadband up to 30mb as well as providing a home/ metro service.

• Eircom provide 8mb/24mb DSL broadband, home phone, wireless hotspot(eircom WiFihub in many spots around Ireland) and mobile phone(emobile) services.

Technological options available

Satellite Donglengle

Hotspot Wireless

DSL

The scenario

I am running a small event management company in Co.Donegal. I have a staff of two, including myself and we rely heavily on an internet and phone connection due to our rural location. We also require a strong mobile phone connection with 3G as we are often not in the office, on site at events or meeting clients.

The options…

Imagine UTV

…Continued

Eircom

Vodafone

Digiweb

Mobile phone networks available

Meteor

o2

Three

Vodafone

eMobile

The best option options for my business

• I have chosen imagine WiMax as the broadband provider for my business as it has 10mb download speed, with unlimited usage and free line rental for only €32.50 per month. For my mobile provider I have chosen to use eMobile as they offer unlimited minutes and texts with 15GBs of data for only €54 per month.

References

• http://www.broadband.gov/broadband_types.html

• http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/guides/what_is_a_mobile_dongle/

• http://www.utvinternet.com/broadband/fibre.aspx

• https://secure.eircom.net/talktime/talktime-evolution-flow?execution=e1s1

• https://www.vodafone.ie/df/homebroadband/

• http://www.imagine.ie/wimax_bundles.html

• http://www.digiweb.ie/home/bundles/#

• http://www.o2online.ie/o2/shop/plans/billpay.php

• http://www.emobile.ie/phonesplansmore/plans/postpay/

• http://www.meteor.ie/bill-pay/bill-pay-mobile-phone-plans/

• http://shop.vodafone.ie/shop/phonesAndPlans/phonesAndPlansHome.jsp?reset=true&subPage=plans

• http://www.three.ie/products_services/priceplans/billpay/smartphone-plans.html