The broadband problem in Mayo is so great that the local Internet connection in many country areas, like Glenisland and Islandeady, is only good enough to allow people access Bebo, according to Labour's Harry Barrett. Over a quarter of the rural population (28 per cent ) are relying on mobile broadband according to the latest EU telecoms report, as they do not have access to fixed-lines.
Barrett explained: “Mobile broadband will only allow you simply check your e-mails, update your blog, and other basic Internet activities. It is nowhere near good enough for generating business, trading with the rest of the world, and will not allow any company to create a single job in a rural Mayo. That is disgraceful and is a great injustice to the people of this county, especially after such an economic boom. “The truth is we continue to remain light years behind the rest of the country on this and for Mayo not to have proper broadband infrastructure is in truth, insane, as we compete for IDA jobs with other parts of the country.
“Broadband is the single biggest infrastructural issue in Ireland right now. We should be treating it with the same importance as rural electrification in the twenties and thirties as it will form the bedrock of future jobs growth. If we want to build a smart, knowledge-based, economy, we will only do so with proper online facilities. As a Labour candidate, this is something I intend to consistently lobby for.”
