Mayor Launches New Guide to Broadband

Mayor Launches New Guide to Broadband

galway.net , 08 March 2005

On Monday March 7th, 2005 a new user-friendly guide entitled "Broadband in Galway City - how to get more from the Internet", was launched by the Mayor of Galway City, Catherine Connolly.

This interactive PDF based guide, produced by Galway City Council is aimed at increasing awareness across all sectors of the benefits that broadband can bring to the workplace, school and home. As highlighted in the guide, if the City "... is not to lag behind as a good place to work or to do business, Galway needs a broadband-literate population and business community." Within this context, Galway City Council is working with the newly established eCity sub-group of Galway City Development Board to increase broadband awareness and uptake in the City.

Commenting on the critical importance of broadband for the City Dr Chris Coughlan, chair of the eCity Group states: "To survive, compete and be successful in today's 24x7 knowledge based global economy the innovative use and application of broadband is now an essential core strategy across all aspects of business within individual, small to medium enterprises or multinational corporations".

Answering Your Broadband Questions

Using a highly attractive design, the guide answers the what? when? who? where? and how? broadband questions. It explains clearly the cost savings, productivity gains and speed differences, which come from broadband. Employing colourful photos, captions, user-friendly icons and simple language, the reader can navigate through a range of broadband topics, which clearly illustrate that broadband "... brings you to the banquet where dialup had previously only shown you the menu".

It explains the differences between delivery mechanisms such as ADSL, cable, wireless, satellite and fibre, highlighting that the most appropriate method will depend on the needs and location of the home or business. Of significance, Galway City Council decided to produce the guide as an interactive PDF, which means that rather than distributing via so-called snail mail, it can be emailed in minutes to interested parties.

Benefits

The guide stresses the need for the city to become proficient as both providers and consumers of broadband embracing "... broadband in all aspects of city life". It details the broadband benefits for the City, workplace and home such as instant communication, receipt of large data rich files, research gains, video conferencing, CCTV, backup, archiving and teleworking. As with any guide, it attempts to assist potential end-users of broadband of the factors to consider when getting connected. Here, the guide addresses factors including cost, connection speed, availability, set up, hardware and software.

The guide attempts to encourage all sectors to avail of broadband technology whilst also aiming to bridge the so-called "digital divide". It has a Galway City focus involving contributions from organisations such as Boston Scientific, the Westside Library, Galway Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Enterprise Ireland, Hewlett Packard, Kennys Book Export Company, Moinin na gCiseach School and the Westwood House Hotel, each explaining the benefits that having broadband has made to their work environment.

Directory of Operators

Critically, the guide includes a directory of carriers providing broadband packages in Galway City. Details for carriers including Smart Telecom, Eircom, Esat BT, MCI, ESB Telecoms, Digiweb and Irish Broadband are outlined with contact details provided for all, displaying the range of carriers which are eager to do business in Galway City.

Speaking at the launch in City Hall, Rob Smyth, Galway Online, who designed and wrote the guide on behalf on Galway City Council said: "Galway City Council is to be congratulated for its innovation. By publishing this introduction to broadband as an electronic guide, Galway City Council can distribute it easily from their website to reach the people who need the information, and by doing so also eliminate the cost, effort and waste associated with paper."

The guide entitled "Broadband in Galway City - how to get more from the internet" is available to view or download from the Galway City Council website at www.galwaycity.ie/broadband. Alternatively, the guide can be emailed to interested parties by contacting Galway City Council at broadband@galwaycity.ie.

For more information, please contact:

Cathy Joyce

Community and Enterprise Development Officer

Galway City Council

Tel: (091) 536542

Email: cathy.joyce@galwaycity.ie

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