Initiatives undertaken by both the private sector and the Irish Government over recent years have resulted in the provision of significant broadband infrastructure and services in Ireland and improvements in international broadband connectivity. Government initiatives have been driven by a recognition of the increasing importance of the Information Society in promoting economic and social development and cohesion for the future.

Private Sector initiatives today encompass a wide range of means of service delivery, including fibre-optic cable, copper wire, hybrid fibre coaxial cable, wireless technologies and satellite. The Government has directly funded the roll-out of broadband networks using these technologies through grant schemes under the National Development Plan. Details of these schemes are available at www.dcmnr.gov.ie.

The National Development Plan (NDP) 200-2006 states that "the stock of public infrastructure in an economy is a major determinant of its competitiveness and of society's capacity to address some of its major social, environmental and economic needs". The construction of local authority fibre-optic metropolitan area networks (MANS), will provide enabling economic infrastructure of long-term benefit. It is intended that these networks will be 'open-access' so they can be used by all interested parties. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, in partnership with the local authorities, is the implementing agency for the investment.

A Code of Practice outlining the basic principles of open-access and other rules pertaining to the use of these networks is available at www.dcmnr.gov.ie

This website attempts to serve as a high level guide to the building of MANs and their use with respect to the other complementary communications technologies available in the market today. This website does not attempt to detail the exact build, design and use in relation to the MANS under development. For more specific technical information please visit communications information sites such as www.t4eb.com or technical information sites such as the International Telecommunications Union at http://www.itu.int/home/

MANs need to be robust, flexible and scalable, with the added dimension of versatility. The most significant requirement of a MAN is the ability to carry the diverse services and content that users may request. While a MAN is a piece of enabling infrastructure, broadband services in many guise and forms can be provided or enhanced by its existence.

Higher education has had a direct benefit from the government's international broadband connectivity project, where HEAnet now links Irish universities, institutes of technology and research organisations to the worldwide research Internet at international broadband speeds. We are now at the leading edge of international connectivity (usually a connection of 155Mbs or greater) however the national infrastructure represents a potential inhibitor to taking full advantage of our place on the worldwide internet.

Fibre Optic MANs are now the standard way in which other European countries connect their universities, schools, hospitals, teaching and research centres together. Nationally, Irish colleges urgently need to have access to this European standard level of connectivity. This will enable the education sector to develop a position at the leading edge of the worldwide developments in research and education. The NDP MAN Programme provides this opportunity.