1. Broadband options in Donegal

2. What companies are providing broadband
access to the internet in your area?
I am from the North West of Ireland, in Donegal and at home we use UTV
broadband. There are however many other providers available to people in
my area. These companies are:

3. Broadband Terminology
• Broadband: Broadband is high-speed Internet access that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up
access.
• DSL: DSL provide internet access using the wires of a local telephone network.
• Wireless: Wireless broadband connects to the Internet using a radio link between the customer’s location and the
location of the service provider.
• Satellite: Just as satellites orbiting the earth provide necessary links for telephone and television service, they can
also provide links for broadband.
• Cable: Cable modem service provides broadband using coaxial cables (like the ones for your TV).
• Fiber: Fiber optic technology converts electrical signals carrying data to light and sends the light through
transparent glass fibers. Fiber optic technology is much faster than DSL or cable speeds but is not currently
available everywhere.
• Dongle: A dongle is a small USB device that allows you to access the internet with a 3G mobile broadband
connection.
• Hotspot: A hotspot is a location that offers wireless Internet access through the use of a router.

4. What type of telecommunications companies
are they and what do they offer?
• UTV provide DSL 2mb or 10mb broadband, home phone(UTVtalk) and Freesat – a digital TV
service from ITV and BBC with 140 channels.
• Imagine provide 3mb/7mb/10mb wireless/ fibre or DSL broadband and a phone service (free
home phone comes as standard)
• Vodafone provide 8mb/24mb home broadband/ mobile broadband(dongle/wireless hotspot
in home office), broadband on the go, as well as mobile phone and home phone services.
• Digiweb provide DSL/ Metro/ Satellite broadband up to 30mb as well as providing a home/
metro service.
• Eircom provide 8mb/24mb DSL broadband, home phone, wireless hotspot(eircom WiFihub in
many spots around Ireland) and mobile phone(emobile) services.

5. Technological options available
Satellite Dongle
ngle
Hotspot Wireless
DSL

6. The scenario
I am running a small event management company in Co.Donegal.
I have a staff of two, including myself and we rely heavily on an
internet and phone connection due to our rural location. We also
require a strong mobile phone connection with 3G as we are
often not in the office, on site at events or meeting clients.

7. The options…
Imagine UTV

8. Digiweb
…Continued
Vodafone
Eircom

9. Mobile phone networks available
o2
Meteor

10. Vodafone
Three
eMobile

11. The best option options for my business
• I have chosen imagine WiMax as the broadband provider for
my business as it has 10mb download speed, with unlimited
usage and free line rental for only €32.50 per month. For my
mobile provider I have chosen to use eMobile as they offer
unlimited minutes and texts with 15GBs of data for only €54
per month.

12. References
• http://www.broadband.gov/broadband_types.html
• http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/guides/what_is_a_mobile_dongle/
• http://www.utvinternet.com/broadband/fibre.aspx
• https://secure.eircom.net/talktime/talktime-evolution-flow?execution=e1s1
• https://www.vodafone.ie/df/homebroadband/
• http://www.imagine.ie/wimax_bundles.html
• http://www.digiweb.ie/home/bundles/#
• http://www.o2online.ie/o2/shop/plans/billpay.php
• http://www.emobile.ie/phonesplansmore/plans/postpay/
• http://www.meteor.ie/bill-pay/bill-pay-mobile-phone-plans/
• http://shop.vodafone.ie/shop/phonesAndPlans/phonesAndPlansHome.jsp?reset=true&subPage=plans
• http://www.three.ie/products_services/priceplans/billpay/smartphone-plans.html