Waterford shifted into broadband high gear today with the extension of DIGIWEB’s fixed wireless broadband network to the City and County. DIGIWEB, Ireland’s fastest expanding broadband services provider, is building an alternative network throughout the country which does not rely on eircom’s copper phone line infrastructure. This radio based network establishes broadband connections over the air, and makes use of Wireless Broadband Licenses awarded to Digiweb recently by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

The new services were launched by Mr. Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Communications Marine and Natural Resources and Cllr. Seamus Ryan, Mayor of Waterford, at a reception at the Ard Rí Hotel attended by leading business and industry representatives from the region.
Cllr. Seamus Ryan, Mayor of Waterford welcomed DIGIWEB’s expansion: “I’m delighted to welcome Digiweb to Waterford … their service will give choice to both Business and Residential customers, ensuring Waterford can offer the best in terms of broadband internet access. This will enhance the competitiveness of existing local business in the global marketplace, and will be yet another attraction for further inward investment to Waterford”.
Officially launching the service, Minister Dermot Ahern observed that “broadband is the new tool in everybody’s toolbox – the one tool we can’t do without”, and concluded by saying “the broadband revolution is now definitely under way, and Digiweb can be said to be one of the leaders in that revolution”

Customers will not need a phone line to receive the new broadband service, and the service extends broadband reach 4 times further than that of ADSL. This provides a much improved availability over that of phone line broadband from other providers. Another key advantage of this technology is that DIGIWEB can establish base stations in any location where a demand for service is identified. The company has already worked successfully with many communities throughout the country to broadband enable their areas.
“These new services will provide business owners and home users a real broadband option, both in Waterford City, and throughout the County. As a native of Tramore, I’m particularly pleased that we are establishing this new office here, which will create over 20 graduate jobs in the next two years, and will act as a central hub to service the entire South East, including Kilkenny Carlow and Wexford, in addition to Waterford” stated Colm Piercy, Managing Director, Digiweb Ltd.
Great excitement ensued this afternoon when Minister Ahern signaled with a flare to a waiting launch in the River Suir to release over 1,000 balloons into the skies, hence kicking off Digiweb’s Free Broadband promotion in Waterford. “Each balloon carries a unique ticket and the first 25 tickets returned to us will win free wireless broadband for 1 year, and the next 125 a free wireless broadband connection” explained Adrian Erangey, Business Development Manager – Southern Region, Digiweb Ltd.
The new broadband services are available immediately in Waterford, priced competitively with other Internet services and available over a wider coverage area. Digiweb also recently launched services in Cork City and County, and is established in Louth, Meath and Cavan for some time. Service rollout to Kilkenny, Portlaoise, Dublin, Carlow, Wexford, Monaghan, Sligo and Donegal will be completed within a number of months.