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€3M CONTRACT SIGNED BY SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL - PRESS RELEASE NOVEMBER 2004

A contract for the delivery of broadband services to Sligo City and its environs was signed at the offices of Sligo County Council this week. Following a tender process, the main works contract has been awarded to Dublin based firm Morricom.

The total cost of the project is €4.7m and is 90% funded by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, with the balance being raised by Local Authority borrowing. The contract provides for the construction of 25km of network around Sligo and immediate environs to facilitate the provision of broadband services.

The work on the contract will start immediately, and is expected to be completed at the end of 2005. Sligo County Council engaged EAP Consulting to oversee the design and management of the project.

What is Broadband?

Broadband is an internet connection that provides high speed access and downloads for a flat monthly charge. Everything works quicker, from downloading e-mails and files or streaming films and radio.

The key benefit of broadband services is that they are always ‘on’ – this means that broadband is a permanent connection to the internet. A broadband connection lets you access the internet from the time you switch on your computer. There will be no need to dial up the internet or log off once you’ve finished surfing.

Delivering Broadband Services

While the laying of ducting and cables for broadband services will result in some disruption to traffic, Sligo County Council has taken steps to ensure that this disruption will be kept to a minimum. A range of measures will be introduced to ensure that the contract will be carried out without major inconvenience to motorists, pedestrians and businesses.

These measures include:  

• Work will be suspended within the core city centre between December 8th and January 15th to avoid conflict with the pre and post Christmas rush Work in town centre streets will be limited to evening/night time only.  
• Work will be suspended on major approach roads during rush hour traffic.  
• To ensure the smooth management of the project, a traffic management plan will be in operation during the contract period. To ensure effective transmission of communications throughout the contract, Sligo County Council will liaise with the Gardai, Chamber of Commerce and Emergency Services.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

The Broadband network being delivered in Sligo is known as ‘Metropolitan Area Network’ (MAN); This is a network of ducting and fire optic cable laid within a metropolitan area which can be used by a variety of businesses and organisations to provide services including (but not limited to) internet access, telecommunications, television and CCTV. The MAN network will reduce the need for service providers to install their own ducting infrastructure, as they will operate on a principle of open access.

Great news for Sligo

Sligo County Manager Hubert Kearns anticipates that ‘the introduction of broadband services will be the catalyst for the continuing economic development of Sligo and the northwest. This marks the first phase of broadband delivery in Sligo. It represents a vital element of our economic infrastructure, and while will it is a great boost to both the private and corporate sector, it will be particularly welcomed by technology-based companies.’

Director of Services Dorothy Clarke welcomed the commencement of the project as ‘Great news for Sligo. Construction of this network will create opportunities for telecommunications business providers to generate enhanced broadband services to businesses and the general public. Strategically this is a very important initiative for Sligo. Having access to high capacity broadband represents a major boost to local business and industry – they will soon benefit from high speed, low cost internet access as well as substantially lower telephone costs and improved telecommunications services.’

Senior Engineer Tom Brennan sees the provision of affordable, resilient and competitive broadband access ‘as one of several critical infrastructure projects necessary to enable Sligo to grow as a Gateway City and to fulfil its potential. This project will support and compliment the very large number of public and private sector projects currently under construction or planned for Sligo City and County. Mr Brennan noted the significant EU funding being made available, and thanked Minister Dempsey and his officials in the Department for their support and guidance in bringing this project to fruition.

The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Margaret Gormley remarked ‘I see the introduction of Broadband services as a very welcome facility for Sligo. I was pleased to be able to officiate at the signing the contract for the delivery of these services to Sligo town and environs, but I would hope and expect that we will deliver the broadband infrastructure to the county as a whole.’

If Sligo is to capitalise on its designation as a Gateway Centre for growth, it is essential that Sligo town and the main towns throughout the county are provided with broadband services. This will represent a major boost both to the business community and the private individual seeking instant access to internet services.’

The Regional Manager of IDA Ireland in the Northwest, Joe McHugh, said that ‘the announcement is the culmination of many months of work by Sligo County Council and the Department of Communications to ensure that Sligo has the best broadband infrastructure available and that it complements the existing networks that are already in Sligo.’ He went on to say that ‘for Sligo to compete for new investment and to assist the businesses, colleges, service providers already in Sligo to compete and deliver services more effectively, it is vital that Sligo is at the forefront of Information Technology developments. This is particularly important at a time when the transfer of information, data and knowledge now underpins most economic activity nationally.’

The President of the Sligo Chamber of Commerce Louis Doherty stated that ‘This is excellent news for Sligo which will ensure that business in the area will no longer be at a disadvantage in competing without the necessary broadband infrastructure. It augurs well for the positive and constructive development if our Gateway City and certainly enhances our ability to reach our potential.’

Chief Executive of the Chamber Marc McSharry was equally enthusiastic about the news.. ‘It will enhance our marketability for foreign direct investment and in particular those companies in the International traded service area who are so dependent on broadband as an essential prerequisite to choosing a location.’

Mr McSharry also paid tribute to the officials of Sligo County Council and the people who worked with them to deliver the broadband network.

€4.7M PROJECT - PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 2005

A €4.7m contract to provide 25km of broadband network around Sligo and immediate environs is well underway. The main works contractor, Morricom commenced work on the project in November 2004, but confined their initial work to outlying areas of the city to avoid the pre-Christmas rush and new year sales period.

The Sligo Broadband Project consists of the construction of a modern metropolitan area telecommunications network (MAN) around Sligo City and its environs. This project represents an essential step in the ongoing long-term strategy to create a sustainable telecommunications infrastructure in the region. The project involves the construction of metropolitan dark fibre and ducting ring networks that will incorporate the city centre, all of the main business and technology parks, government buildings, as well as community sites such as educational institutions, hospitals and libraries. This dark fibre and sub-ducting on these metropolitan rings will be made available to telecommunications operators who will provide services.

The construction of the Sligo Broadband Network has reached a stage in the program where works have commenced on certain streets in the City Centre. This stage of the construction will install the network in close proximity to the major business streets and individual buildings in the Sligo City. These works involve the excavation of a trench approximately one metre wide that accommodates six broadband ducts that will allow local businesses to access the Broadband Network and receive high-speed Internet services and other related products.

Working hours and days in the city centre have been restricted in order to minimise disruption to the public, to business and to traffic flow. The major excavation works will generally be carried out between the hours of 6.30pm to 2.30am on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. There will be diversions and lane restrictions in force to ensure the works are carried out in a safe and efficient manner.

The following streets will have construction works over the coming weeks:-

Teeling Street, Castle Street, Grattan Street, O Connell Street, Stephen Street, Bridge Street, The Mall, Wine Street, Union Street, Connolly Street, Market Street, Old Market Street and Lord Edward Street.

Road closures have been applied for on certain streets where appropriate.

The works are scheduled to be completed over an eight-week period commencing the week beginning 21st February. This period and the working hours described above may be subject to change depending on ground conditions and progress.

The Project Manager for the project is EAP Consulting, Both EAP and Morricom will have supervisory staff on site for the duration of the works to deal with any issues that may arise. The contractor will issue letter drops to affected premises prior to the commencement of works and courtesy boards which contain contact details for the public will be on display on the streets during construction.

Sligo County Council and Morricom apologise in advance for any inconvenience these works may cause in bringing a state of the art Broadband Network to Sligo and its environs.

BROADBAND NETWORK NEARS COMPLETION - UPDATE AUGUST 2005

The construction of the Sligo Broadband Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) has entered its final stage which signals the completion of over 27 km of ductwork and fibre laid under the streets of Sligo and its environs. The network has been constructed in three rings as the network map illustrates. The majority of the network (19km) has been installed strategically in the core business districts of the city that encompasses the main business and commercial streets with spurs to Business Parks and future sites that are zoned for Business/Commercial developments. A further 3km of network has been installed as "customer connections" to specific buildings and streets that are classified as potential high users of Broadband services. The remaining 5km links the city centre to Carroroe along the new Inner Relief Road. This section has been designed to accommodate future developments along its length and expand the network to outlying areas as they develop.

The project will be completed on time and within budget with an expected "ready for service" date of September after all the required tests and final sign off have been completed. A network build of this size and in particular the route chosen will understandably have caused some disruption to the public and traffic flow in the town. Sligo County Council hope that the construction has not greatly inconvenienced the public as the contractor, in close consultation with the local Authority, scheduled the most difficult sections through the city centre to be built at night thus keeping disruption to a minimum.

The network divides the city into three fibre rings, which offers users the highest degree of reliability of service. Any break on the network will not affect the customer as service is automatically switched to the alternative route around the ring. The three rings meet at a Co Location centre where the carriers will install their equipment and send their services out on the network.

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