Cobh Broadband Action Group (CBAG)

Cobh Broadband Action Group (CBAG) has been in existence now for two years with the aim of getting High Speed Broadband (HSB) for all of Cobh and the Great Island.  We believe that we have made progress but the battle will have to go on for some time before we achieve final success

 CBAG has continued to address the critical issues about HSB through a series of awareness activities with service providers, local and national authorities and political structures during this period

CBAG gave a comprehensive brief to the March meeting of Cobh Municipal District on a number of significant issues relating to the abysmal lack of High Speed Broadband (HSB) service in Cobh.  We highlighted the critical condition of service and the importance for remedial action by central and local government and the technology industry.  The Group especially wished to refute a series of claims made by Eir in a recent letter, which stated that “at present most of Cobh is served with Fibre to the Cabinet technology”.  Eir is claiming that this is giving speeds of up to 100 Mbps.  As local citizens we all know that 10 Mbps is often closer to reality.  Eir must step up to the plate on their commitments.  Our task with the Municipal District was, to drive this message home so that there is NO doubt about the broadband crisis here, and the necessity for us to work as a community to remedy the situation.

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is the new company contracted by Government last Nov to supply service to the areas of the country which is not served by Eir.  The areas are known as the intervention areas.  CBAG noted that the NBI is now mapping and designing plans to address the situation in the so called intervention areas.  We also stressed that Eir’s legacy must be identified so that the task for NBI is clear.  Cobh, and indeed Cork County as a whole, has been really badly serviced for quality broadband and lags seriously behind all other counties.  Cork County make up 15% of the NBI task, the other counties average between 2 and 3%.   We proposed to the Municipal District that Cobh and Cork County should be prioritised in the NBI project.

We are always keen to hear from Cobh & Great Island residents who have low speed broadband.  We invite you to help us by reporting your broadband speed and EirCode to us at badbroadbandcobh@gmail.com .  Such information will help us to continue to map the situation on the Great Island and provide us with material to argue for better service for all.  Please logon to www.nbi.ie and register your Eircode and email.  Your interest will get their attention.

CBAG Committee:

Bill Ramsell, Jim O’Meara, Denis Twomey, Dave Muldowney, Eoghan Allen