Two new telecom initiatives have been given the go-ahead this week from state bodies – a fibre optic cable maintenance contract from Bord Gais and a broadband provision tender from CLAR, the rural development body.
Bord Gais have requested submissions for a multi-million euro tender for the supply, laying and maintenance of 600km of fibre optic cable beside existing gas pipelines, in an effort to increase telecom capabilities.
Bord Gais already offers telecom services through its subsidiary Aurora. Under the Ceantair Laga Ard-Riachtanais (CLAR) programme to halt rural depopulation and services decline, the Government is also seeking proposals for the provision of broadband to 15 rural towns. This will be a 12-month contract and the initial proposal is investigating the possibility of HLAN /HIPERLAN and DSL technologies.
Full details of the project and designated towns can be found at the following URL: http://www.marine.gov.ie/files/CommsDevCallforCLARproposalsfinal.doc