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She said her aim is to enable sufficient information to be available for both the access provider (Eircom) and access seekers regarding LLU. "I consider that Eircom's proposals are currently deficient for this purpose." the regulator said.
In general, the provisions are part of an overall plan to offer unbundled local loops for Ireland, which could potentially offer lower priced Internet access to homes and business in Ireland. A full LLU report is due out at the end of the month.
A few people in Ireland are on the verge of organising into a unified group, according to Justin Mason the Host of the Irish Internet Users forum.
The Irish Internet Users forum, an on-line discussion forum, has seen slightly higher levels of traffic in recent weeks in part as a result of the closure of IOL's surf no limits.
Subscribers to the Irish Internet Users forum have objected to the lack of broadband Internet access in Ireland. These complaints follow IOL's withdrawal of its IOL No Limits package, the only flat rate package in Ireland.
IOL is currently reviewing the package, but is not accepting any new subscribers for it.
This discontent has prompted one of the site's contributors to write an open letter to the ODTR with the hope of seeing some action with regard to broadband services and local loop unbundling.
This letter refers to Ireland's telecommunications infrastructure as being "one of the most backward in Europe." It also comments on Eircom's lack of broadband services as well as its unwillingness to offer unbundled local loops. In addition, it calls on the ODTR to implement physical local loop unbundling.
However, Magella Fitzpatrick, PR director with Eircom said, "Unbundling is not as easy as black and white." She said it was a complex issue with a variety of pros and cons.
She also said, "The reality is, their business, their flat rate product, was introduced months ago and the rates have not changed, why can they no longer support it?"
Andrew O'Shaughnessy, chairman of the Irish Internet Association agreed with Fitzpartick in saying, "This a very complex issue and we're looking into it. The IAA is concerned at the pace at which things are happening." He added that the organisation wanted to put pressure on the right places with regard to these issues.
The letter sent to the ODTR was intended to renew user interest in bringing about broadband solutions for home users, explained the author in an interview with ElectricNews.Net. "I wanted to highlight the frustration of Internet users and show this to the ODTR," he said. "The general feeling is that we need to put pressure on the ODTR because they are responsible for the necessary legislation."
The possibility of further action such as protesting has been by discussed contributors to the IIU, according to Mason.
A spokesperson for the ODTR told ElectricNews.Net, "the local loop has been unbundled since January 1, 2001."
There has been a problem with suppliers for bit stream unbundling, but a meeting will be held this week to resolve these, according to the spokesperson. Work is also ongoing on achieving full unbundling.
"Anyone can request access to the local loop at present," said the spokesperson.
The Irish Internet Users site is at http://iiu.org.
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