4G WiMax: The Solution to Ireland's Broadband Crisis

4G WiMax: The Solution to Ireland's Broadband Crisis

DUBLIN, May 11, 2010--

    - Irish Firm Imagine Bids to Radically Improve Ireland's Position
in the European Broadband League

    - Irish Government Hopelessly Inadequate in in Preparing Ireland for
Future Technologies

    Imagine Communications Group has said that Ireland will have a
world-class broadband and phone network in the next 12 months as a result of
a comprehensive EUR100million investment in the new 4G technology WiMax.

    The Irish firm was responding to the latest OECD report on broadband
which ranked Ireland at the bottom of the European league table on broadband
speeds. Imagine is rolling out the first national 4G WiMax network in Europe
this year, with the support of Intel and Motorola, to enable faster Internet
speeds and better phone services at low prices.

    Ireland's over-reliance on the outmoded and over-exploited 3G network for
broadband access to date has directly led to its lowly position on the OECD
broadband chart, with OECD regulators even refusing to classify 3G as
broadband.

    Imagine's Commercial Director Mr. Brian O'Donohoe has said the rapid
deployment of the superfast 4G WiMax network will shoot Ireland up the
European broadband league table.

    "This week's OECD statistics show that Ireland has dropped to 29th
position for broadband speeds, after being placed 26th in September 2008,"
Mr. O'Donohoe said. "The new 4G WiMax network is faster and more reliable
than 3G, has no expensive line rental charges like DSL and is available at
half the cost of older technology providers like Eircom".

    "The Irish Government, Comreg and the existing market players have been
hopelessly inadequate in preparing Ireland for future technologies and the
damning OECD report has created a significant opportunity for 4G WiMax in
Ireland," said Mr. O'Donohoe.

    WiMax is backed worldwide by Intel, Motorola, Time Warner, Google and
many other major multinationals. The new technology is already allowing
Imagine to make high speed broadband available and affordable to businesses
and consumers in counties Dublin, Wexford, Kildare, Sligo, Louth, Westmeath
and Longford, with 30 new locations now being rolled out each month.

    Imagine's biggest competitor in Ireland, Eircom, has the highest line
rental fees in Europe and Imagine WiMax customers will automatically save up
to EUR400 a year on top of benefitting from lower broadband and phone bills.

   
    For further information, please contact:
    Ben Kealy, Imagine Communications, +353-086-774-1999.
    James McDonald, Model Communications, +353-01-881-4038.

Source: Imagine

For further information, please contact: Ben Kealy, Imagine Communications, +353-086-774-1999 ; James McDonald, Model Communications, +353-01-881-4038