Wi-fi ‘hot spots’ to be established to improve broadband in rural Sligo areas



Twenty Wi-fi hot spots are to be set up throughout County Sligo in a short-term effort to improve broadband services to people living in rural areas.

Plans for improved broadband services throughout County Sligo were outlined to south and west Sligo councillors at their Municipal Distict meeting in Tubbercurry this week.

But some councillors were sceptical of the plans.
The National Broadband Plan envisages that by 2020 broadband will be connected to all homes and businesses.

The Wi-fi hot spots — which would enable people get an internet connection in areas where high-speed broadband does not currently exist — would then be phased out.

However, Independent Councillor Margaret Gormley described the idea of hot-spots, and people having to drive to areas such as community centres, as ludricious.

She said broadband should be available everywhere but instead they had been listening about it coming for for the last number of years.

Sligo County Council has appointed Nigel Carter as its broadband officer; he will be the key person to contact in relation to all broadband issues in the county.

He told Ocean FM News what the current situation is in relation to the broadband rollout:

Fianna Fail Councillor Paul Taylor said that in some rural towns and villages, people had already signed up with companies for broadband, but the service was not satisfactory.

He says rural areas must be adequately provided for.



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