Researching Broadband Internet Services available to SMEs in Ireland 2011

Dylan Newe

N00082656

Ranelagh/Dublin 6 Broadband Service

What is Broadband?

Broadband: A service or connection allowing high speed data transmission. Broadband is typically an 'always on' service and is generally defined as bandwidth between greater than 512Kbit/s, sometimes 2 Mbit/s. This group of technologies is often referred to as: DSL or xDSL, capable of transforming ordinary phone lines into high-speed digital lines, capable of supporting fast Internet access. ADSL, HDSL (High speed data rate Digital Subscriber Line) and VDSL (Very high data rate Digital Subscriber Line) are all variants of xDSL.

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line): A technology that transforms a normal telephone line into a high-speed digital line that enables access to telephony services and the Internet at the same time.

Key Factors for SMEs in Choosing a Broadband Provider

Contention Ratio: Contention ratio refers to the bandwidth sharing between a number of other users. To enable affordable broadband, your broadband connection is actually shared with a number of other users. The number of other users you share bandwidth, with, is what is called your "contention ratio". Typical contention ratios for ADSL are around 50:1, meaning the lower contention ratio the better!

Download and Upload Speed: The faster your Internet connection speed, the faster your uploading and downloading capability, therefore if you are a user who uploads large files or other information over the Internet, you should look for faster upload speeds. Both speeds are measured in kb/s, which refers to kilobytes per second.

Companies providing Broadband access to Ranelagh

Company Type of Telecommunications

Medium of Communication

UPC Broadband/Phone/TV Fibre Optic Cable

Digiweb Broadband/Phone ADSL

3 Mobile Mobile Broadband Dongle/USB

Meteor Mobile Broadband Dongle/USB

Smart Telecom Broadband/Phone/TV ADSL

Eircom/EMobile Broadband/Phone/ Mobile

ADSL/USB

Vodafone Broadband/Phone/ Mobile

ADSL/USB

QSAT Broadband/Phone/TV Satellite

Company Type of Telecommunications

Medium of Telecommunications

Magnet Broadband/Phone Fibre Optic Cable

Strencom Broadband ADSL

UTV Internet Broadband/Phone ADSL

Home Vision Broadband/Phone/TV ADSL

Imagine Wimax Broadband/Phone Wireless

02 Mobile Broadband Dongle/USB

Onwave Broadband Satellite

Airspeed Broadband Wireless

Six Technological Options for my SME

UPC: “provides Ireland's fastest broadband, the TV you love and Home Phone. We also offer the lowest everyday price.”

QSAT: “provide satellite broadband, phone and TV or any combination of to anywhere in Ireland by means of a low cost high speed satellite system.”

Eircom: “Fast, reliable broadband and phone and broadband bundles”

UTV: “Ireland's number one providers of cheap broadband and telephone for business and residential customers.”

Imagine: “better than other internet service providers by delivering easy high speed internet and digital voice service.”

Digiweb: “leading broadband, hosting and phone provider”

Premium Business Broadband Package

Price €69 per month

Installation Fee €80

Download Speed 30Mbps

Upload Speed 3Mbps

Contention Ratio 5:1

Usage Capacity None

• Gold Business Broadband Package

Price €99.95 per month

Installation Fee None

Download Speed 8Mbps

Upload Speed 2Mbps

Contention Ratio N/A

Usage Capacity 20GB per month

• Value Business Plan 3Mb Bundle

Price €45 per month

Installation Fee Free

Download Speed 3Mbps

Upload Speed 384Kbps

Contention Ratio 48:1

Usage Capacity 30GB

• NGB 24MB Option 1

Price €29.99

Installation Fee Free

Download Speed 24Mbps

Upload Speed 768Kbps

Contention Ratio Uncongested

Usage Capacity None

• 3Mb Wimax Broadband Plan

Price €30 per month

Installation Fee €100

Download Speed 3Mbps

Upload Speed 256Kbps

Contention Ratio 48:1

Usage Capacity Unlimited

• Metro Advance Plan

Price €49.95

Installation Fee €49

Download Speed 8Mbps

Upload Speed 2Mbps

Contention Ratio 18:1

Usage Capacity 70GB

I spoke to Jen Dunbar, Production Co-Ordinator at New Decade, a new Film Production Company & SME located on my street. http://www.newdecade.ie/index.html

New Decade has a staff of less than 10, however as a small & emerging company dealing with multimedia on a day-to-day basis are reliant on a strong Broadband service.

New Decade use UTV as their main Broadband providers but also use eMobile as a separate Mobile Business connection with all three of the production co-ordinators using USB dongles and sometimes working from home.

Jen told me: “The most important aspects of our broadband requirements are for fast download/uploading speed as we tend to send a lot of video files to clients via FTP sites. Tech spec versus cost is definitely a concern however we are relatively happy with the connection and haven’t really looked into other options in the last few years.”

When I asked about negative or restrictive issues surrounding the service she replied “As far as restrictive issues concerning the location of the building, the only problem we would occasionally have is that one of the computer rooms seems to be either too far away from the wireless eircom* transmitter to receive a steady and strong signal, or the walls between are disturbing the signal.”

* UTV system allows them to become the default provider of services on another Eircom line through reprogramming of the Eircom exchange

The Option that Suits my Business best is….

The UTV Internet NGB 24MB Option 1costs €35 a month, features free connection & wireless router as well as an uncongested contention ratio and unlimited usage.

I would choose this as contention ratio is an increasingly important component in the competitive Broadband market and having an uncongested line means quicker speeds of both uploading & downloading. Also, it is relatively cheap compared to the other market competitors and allows unlimited usage which is also key.

Bibliography http://

www.broadband-suppliers.com/broadband-suppliers-faqs/contention-ratio.htm

http://www.askcomreg.ie/home/buzzwords_explained.57.LE.asp

http://broadband.about.com/od/speedissues/a/Broadband-Internet-Speeds-Explained.htm

http://www.digiweb.ie/business/products/connectivity/broadband/metro/

http://www.upc.ie/ http://www.imagine.ie/ http://www.qsat.ie/broadband http://business.eircom.net/broadband/products/bb/36/