'Astonishing' €2m. Mayo digital project still not switched on
A BROADBAND network at Ireland West Airport that could also serve its hinterland remains switched off - 15 years after it was constructed.
The situation with the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), which was funded by the EU to the tune of more than €2 million, was revealed by local Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry Murray.
The up-to-date position with the network is being looked into by the council's broadband and digital officer.
The metropolitan broadband ring was built at Knock airport in 2009 by Westel Utilities, Councillor Murray explained at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting.
In 2017 the late chief executive of Westel informed him that the network still hadn't been switched on. Had the switch been flicked, people living within a 10- to 15-mile radius of the airport could have had a proper broadband service.
All it needed was an aerial attached to the unit at the airport. But that was never done.
“For eight or nine years they could not find someone in the private sector who would literally flick the switch,” he stated.
It was, Councillor Murray added, 'an extraordinary scenario'.
He had discussed the matter with the European Commission in 2017 as the project was funded with money from Europe.
He described the Commission as being 'astonished'.
He asked for an update on what if any private enterprises are using the network and opening it up to the wider local area.
Council broadband officer Danny O'Toole said the MAN has recently come across his desk and he is in discussions and will come back with further information on it.
“It was put in for a purpose and it hasn't moved on very much since that as I understand,” he said.
Questioned that the MAN has not yet been formally switched on, he said that was his understanding.
Said Councillor Murray: “We have a piece of infrastructure which, at the flick of a switch, could have solved an infrastructure deficit as far back as 2009.
“It is astonishing.”
Councillor Neil Cruise said broadband was one of the first priorities for employers to get up and running, yet this has been in the ground for the last 15 years.
“If we don’t have simple things like good internet at the airport we are on the back foot,” he commented.