BoR (11) 06b BEREC report NGA Country Cases - IRG

BoR (11) 06b
UPC (originally called NTL) consolidated a number of larger and smaller cable TV
companies over the past 10 years and is now the largest cable TV operator by some
distance. There now remains only a small number of local cable operators with
insignificant customer numbers. UPC is now a genuine triple play operator. The UPC
cable TV network passes circa 800K homes, 605K of which are designated “2-way” i.e.
can provide services other than pure broadcast services. It currently has over 173K
broadband and 64K voice (VOIP) customers. Its broadband numbers equates to
approximately 19% market share of the fixed line broadband market –this excluded any
leased lines which may be used to supply internet access to businesses. UPC also offers
business class services of Ethernet leased lines and Internet Access. UPC does offer
Wholesale Ethernet leased lines to other operators. There is no published Business or
Wholesale pricing and information is not available.
BT has fibre network across the country connecting all the major centres of population
and many regional towns. Its network is based primarily on the national rail network and
also uses ESBT and e-Net for both trunk and last-mile routes and connections and has
fibre ploughed into many business centres and campuses. It announced in March 2010
the launch of its “Etherflow” product. This is based on its global product offering of the
same name and also uses microwave radio and anticipates reselling the Eircom NGN
Ethernet product to effect connectivity in areas. Pricing is not publically available.
ESBT (Electricity Supply Board Telecoms – a network subsidiary owned by the state
electricity company), owns a national “figure-of-eight” fibre network with a spur to Donegal
in the north-west of the country, with overall, over 1,300Km of fibre routed throughout the
country using its high-voltage electricity transmission network. It offers leased line
services and connects approximately 19 major towns and cities across the country and
offers largely wholesale, and some retail Ethernet leased line services. Pricing is not
publically available.
e-Net (The Government Metropolitan Area Networks) operates and maintains up to 93
Government built MANS in towns and cities of population greater than 10,000 throughout
the country which have been used to a greater or lesser extent. The concession which e-
Net received form the Government precludes it from entering the retail market and any
backhaul it would build between the MANS must be completed by e-Net on a commercial
basis. The MANS themselves are geographically limited in scope within the respective
towns but can allow Altnets to establish interconnects with Eircom for instance, as well as
effecting customer connections. e-Net offers Dark Fibre and managed leased lines
services. Pricing is contained in Appendix 2
Aurora Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Gas distribution utility, Bord
Gáis. It offers wholesale duct access and dark fibre. Its network is limited to specific
routes within Dublin and between and within four regional centres. Pricing is not publically
available.
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