The Government will sign a €3bn contract for the supply of rural broadband later this year after categorically ruling out an offer of a cheaper option for high-speed connections. The cabinet yesterday agreed to refuse an offer from Eir to connect up to a million people. In a letter to Eir, the Department of Communications advised that the provision of a state subsidy to any company without competition was not legal. Furthermore, Eir’s proposal “did not meet the key objectives” of the Government’s national broadband plan. In its statement after the cabinet meeting, the Government also said it now intended to sign the contract with this consortium by the end of the year.

Source: Irish Examiner July 18, 2019 04:30 UTC