BUSINESSES and homes in Killarney are paying up to 300 per cent more than other areas for broadband and many of them are not getting the internet speed they are entitled to, a local politician has complained.
Cllr Anne McEllistrim said it is very unfair that broadband is up to three times more expensive in Killarney and other parts of the country than in some European countries.
“Coupled with the fact that broadband coverage is very poor in many areas, it means that people are losing out on the double,” she said.
Cllr McEllistrim said people here are most likely to limit internet use and international calls on their phones because of cost fears.
“Consumers suffer from a geographic lottery with huge variations in price and quality of broadband showing there still is no single market for the internet.
“There is no good reason why one person should pay over four times more than another for the same broadband,” Cllr McEllistrim said.
“On top of this consumers also only get three-quarters of the internet speed they sign up for on average and the gap remains as wide as it was two years ago.”
Capacity
She said four out of 10 consumers report difficulties accessing online content due to slow speeds or downloading capacity and 18 per cent have been hit with extra charges for downloading too much data, even though most people aren’t aware this could happen.
Cllr McEllistrim, a local elections candidate in the Killarney electoral area, said new laws are needed to protect consumers and ensure clear contracts, reliable speeds and greater rights to switch provider or end a contract.
“We are all becoming more and more reliant on broadband and the internet for both work and recreation so it is very important to get this right,” she said.
