The document analyzes broadband options for a sole trader in Drumcondra. It discusses 6 major providers - Eircom, Smart, Imagine, UPC, Vodafone, and 3 - and their various package options. It provides details on speeds, data limits, pricing and other terms. After comparing the options, the document selects UPC's Fiber Power 25Mb package as it has a large data limit of 500GB and no line rental fees, for a total cost of €42.75 per month.

1. +
Broadband Options in
Drumcondra
For the Sole Trader or Home office
Aisling Carton

2. +
Initial Considerations
 Sole trader primarily concerned with keeping costs low
 With own website and attached email
 Needs to be able to support periods of high usage as per
demand on company
 Moderate internet usage as standard practice
 This presentation will look at a sample of 6 major providers and
associated options
 Even though the consideration is for broadband I will include
bundle offers for consideration if they offer a potentially better
deal

3. +
Important terms used in the
presentation:
 Cable – ISPs use existing TV cables to provide broadband
 ADSL – internet is provided through an existing phone cable
 LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) - where a telecoms company can
take complete control of the copper cable running from the
customer premises to the local exchange for an agreed monthly
fee to the owner of the line
 Satellite – broadband is provided through a satellite dish installed
at the home and a modem
 Fiber Optic – series of light pulsed through an optical fiber transmit
information at very high speeds
 Contention Ratio – the number of users that can access the actual
bandwidth at once

4. +
Companies in Drumcondra
providing Business Broadband/3G:

5. +
Eircom
 According to the latest comreg data remains the largest
telecommunications provider in Ireland, operating a fixed line
telephone network, as well as the mobile provider ‘Meteor’
 Provide broadband through FWA, Cable, ADSL and Satellite, Fiber
broadband is not available in North Dublin
 Have 7 ADSL and free Wi-Fi modem packages designed for
business broadband in Drumcondra
 Each package is a 12 month contract with a charge if it is
terminated before this time
 Where applicable throughout, line rental is €20.96 ex VAT per
month

6. +
6 Eircom Package Options
Package Speed / Allowance Data Rate P/M
limit
Up to 1Mb 1Mb Download, 10Gb €20.65 plus line rental
128kbps Upload
Up to 3Mb ‘Lite plus’ 3Mb Download, 30Gb €24.79 plus line rental
384kbps Upload
Up to 3Mb Bundle 3Mb Download, 30Gb €45 including line
384kbps Upload rental
Up to 12Mb/1.1Mb 12Mb Download, n/a €40 plus line rental,
1.1Mb Upload €50 once off fee
Up to 12Mb Bundle 12Mb Download, n/a €60 including line
1.1Mb Upload rental
Up to 18Mb/2Mb 18Mb Download, n/a €99 plus line rental,
2Mb Upload €50 once off fee

7. +
Eircom Pros
 Many options available
 Good, inexpensive small business package if you buy a bundle
 Well established, reputable company
Eircom Cons
 May be too automated for good direct customer service
 Requires monthly line rental payment in many cases
 Fee for cancellation if decided package is the wrong choice

8. +
Smart
 Smart provide LLU broadband as ADSL, via a fixed line
telephone network already in place
 Smart offer 1 business specific package that can be used in the
Drumcondra area the ‘24 for 24’ option
 It consists of 24Mb download speed and 1Mb upload speed,
with a 500Gb limit and optional wifi
 The cost is €24 per month with a 12 month contract

9. +
Smart Pros
 Positively reviewed online
 Good upload/download speeds
Smart Cons
 Requires monthly line rental payment for a total of €45 monthly
which needs to be considered additional to base cost
 All customer service is automated
 Difficult company to speak with anyone directly, online reviews
of unclear bills

10. +
Imagine
 Imagine offer DSL and Wi-Max broadband to homes and
businesses as a competitor to Eircom
 Have 9 DSL and Wi-Max packages designed for business
broadband in Drumcondra
 Connection charge is €45 for DSL and €150 for Wi-Max
 There is a 12 month contract with every package

11. +
6 Imagine Package Options
Package Speed / Allowance Data Rate P/M
limit
Breeze 4Mb Wi-Max 4Mb Download and n/a €45.27 plus €150
Upload connection fee
Breeze 6Mb Wi-Max 6Mb Download and n/a €100 plus €150
Upload connection fee
Breeze 6Mb Plus Wi- 6Mb Download and n/a €175 plus €150
Max Upload connection fee
Up to 3Mb DSL 3Mb Download, n/a €20.66 plus line rental,
384kbps Upload €45 connection fee
Up to 7.6Mb DSL 7.6Mb Download, n/a €28.93 plus line rental,
672kbps Upload €45 connection fee
Up to 12Mb DSL 12Mb Download, n/a €55 plus line rental,
1Mb Upload €45 connection fee

12. +
Imagine Pros
 Low Contention Ratio (the highest is 24:1 for WiMax)
 Comprehensive small business package with a lot of space and good
speed
 Only Wi-Max provider in Drumcondra
 No data limit
Imagine Cons
 €150 connection charge for wireless seems excessive
 The most expensive choice overall including line rental for DSL
 As with Smart, you need to find out the line rental and add it separately

13. +
UPC
 UPC provide cable broadband in Ireland using DOCSI- which
transmits fiber power broadband via existing cable modem
 Have 4 fiber power broadband options for Drumcondra as
standard
 A €7.75 charge is added to each package P/M when not buying
a bundle
 All plans include a free wireless router
 There is a 12 month contract with every package
 There is a €40 equipment activation fee with every package

14. +
UPC Package Options
Package Speed / Allowance Data Rate P/M
limit
Fiber Power 20Mb 20Mb Download, 500Gb €25 plus €7.75 non-
2Mb Upload bundle fee and €40 once
off fee
Fiber Power 25Mb 25Mb Download, 2.5Mb 500Gb €35 plus €7.75 non-
Upload bundle fee and €40 once
off fee
Fiber Power 50Mb 50Mb Download, 500Gb €45 plus €7.75 non-
5Mb Upload bundle fee and €40 once
off fee
Fiber Power 100Mb 100Mb Download, 500Gb €25 plus €7.75 non-
7Mb Upload bundle fee and €40 once
off fee

15. +
UPC Pros
 Good data limit (500Gb on all packages)
 Doesn’t require a telephone line
 Don’t need to pay line rental to another company on top of
subscription
UPC Cons
 No business specific packages
 Extra costs hidden in T&Cs, including for downgrading package
before contracts end

16. +
Vodafone
 Vodafone IE is part of an international company, dealing in
Ireland in mobile technology
 They offer fixed line broadband through BT’s network, as well
as mobile broadband
 Have 3 all-purpose broadband packages designed for use in
Drumcondra
 All packages include a fee modem
 There is a 12 month contract with every package
 There is no additional line rental charge

17. +
Vodafone Package Options
Package Speed / Allowance Data limit Rate P/M
€40 Per Month 8Mb Download and 40Gb €40
512kbps Upload
€48 Per Month 8Mb Download and 300Gb €48
512kbps Upload
€55 Per Month 24Mb Download and 350Gb €55
2Mb Upload

18. +
Vodafone Pros
 No line rental
 Billing is softcopy
 Good data limits on the costlier packages
 Helpful FAQ and customer service numbers
Vodafone Cons
 Costs quickly build if over data allowance
 No business packages
 Need to choose the most expensive package to see real benefits

19. +
Comparison of 3G plans from 3 (for
iPad):
Package Data limit Rate P/M
3 broadband lite 1Gb €9.99
3 broadband active 15Gb €19.99

20. +
End result:
 After comparing the benefits I have selected UPC’s Fiber
Power 25Mb package
 It has an excellent 500Gb data limit, coupled with no line rental
and the option to add a phone line in order to reduce overall
cost
 There are good up- and download speeds for when they’re
needed
 The total cost will be €42.75 per month (after the first month,
which will be €82.75) as long as the business keeps within data
limits
 An additional 3G package for the iPad will likely be
unnecessary and will not be included

21. +
Link to supporting information (Prezi
online):
 Prezi Presentation
Websites used:
 http://www.eircom.net/
 http://www.upc.ie/
 http://www.vodafone.ie/
 http://magnet.ie/
 http://www.three.ie/
 http://www.imagine.ie/