Broadband in Kilmacanogue...finally?
17/12/10 20:22
After two years of delays, it looks like Kilmacanogue in Co. Wicklow is finally about to come into the broadband age. As reported on this site in the past, there have been long delays in the upgrade of the exchange to allow residents in the area to avail of full speed broadband. This week, eircom confirmed to us that the exchange is to be finalised in January 2011, with customers expected to receive the speed boosts by the end of the month. This will assist all landline broadband customers, including Vodafone, Magnet and other providers, and not just eircom customers.
Delays had occurred since we started to follow this story in 2008. At that time eircom stated that broadband would be installed in the area by the start of 2009. This then changed to June 2009, later revised to September and then November 2009. The November date was later confirmed to us by eircom, only for this to be dropped as this deadline approached.
Further delays occurred in early 2010 when eircom reviewed their budget position and they reviewed projects they would roll out during the rest of 2010. In June this year, eircom submitted plans to Wicklow County Council to approve a Traffic Management Plan which sought a permit for eircom to begin work on the Kilmacanogue exchange. This was accepted, and the work began in September.
Eircom initially expected to complete the work over a three month period, and so complete the upgrade in 2010. However they ran into a number of technical difficulties along the N11. According to eircom’s press officer, Tom Fitzpatrick:
“Once the work commenced, eircom discovered that some of the ducting put in place underneath the N11 had collapsed which created blockages. eircom has been working to clear those blockages to allow the cables to be placed in the ducting. That work was hampered by the recent bad weather, but has now been concluded.”
The penultimate phase to reroute cables under the N11 to the new exchange is expected to be completed by Christmas. Eircom have stated to us that “it is our hope that all final works should be completed by the end of January and customers should have a full service.”
After so many delays and having followed the progress between 2008 and today, we still remain sceptical of eircom’s ability to keep this project on schedule. However the work does seem to be proceeding, and we hope to be able to report in the new year that the exchange has been finally upgraded, bringing decent broadband speeds to homes and businesses in the area, including our own.
Dr. Simon Spence/2010
Delays had occurred since we started to follow this story in 2008. At that time eircom stated that broadband would be installed in the area by the start of 2009. This then changed to June 2009, later revised to September and then November 2009. The November date was later confirmed to us by eircom, only for this to be dropped as this deadline approached.
Further delays occurred in early 2010 when eircom reviewed their budget position and they reviewed projects they would roll out during the rest of 2010. In June this year, eircom submitted plans to Wicklow County Council to approve a Traffic Management Plan which sought a permit for eircom to begin work on the Kilmacanogue exchange. This was accepted, and the work began in September.
Eircom initially expected to complete the work over a three month period, and so complete the upgrade in 2010. However they ran into a number of technical difficulties along the N11. According to eircom’s press officer, Tom Fitzpatrick:
“Once the work commenced, eircom discovered that some of the ducting put in place underneath the N11 had collapsed which created blockages. eircom has been working to clear those blockages to allow the cables to be placed in the ducting. That work was hampered by the recent bad weather, but has now been concluded.”
The penultimate phase to reroute cables under the N11 to the new exchange is expected to be completed by Christmas. Eircom have stated to us that “it is our hope that all final works should be completed by the end of January and customers should have a full service.”
After so many delays and having followed the progress between 2008 and today, we still remain sceptical of eircom’s ability to keep this project on schedule. However the work does seem to be proceeding, and we hope to be able to report in the new year that the exchange has been finally upgraded, bringing decent broadband speeds to homes and businesses in the area, including our own.
Dr. Simon Spence/2010
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