IrelandOffline
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IrelandOffline (IOFFL) is an Irish consumer pressure group which was set up on 13th May 2001 to lobby for universal, affordable internet access in Ireland.
In early May 2001, the internet service provider Esat discontinued provision to 2000 users of its "IOL Surf No Limits" internet access package - a flat rate package - for what it deemed "excessive usage" of the service. This prompted discussions by disgruntled users on the ie.comp newsgroup, where it was decided that a pressure group was required to lobby Eircom (the former state-owned monopoly), Esat, Comreg (formerly the ODTR), and the Irish Government to take effective action that would ultimately result in universal Broadband Internet access to every home in the country.
It is widely believed that IrelandOffline has had a significant impact on the marketplace, with many new products and services becoming available after strong lobbying by the organisation. Many believe that:
- IOFFL's lobbying helped to convince the government to instruct Eircom to allow the introduction of flat-rate dialup
- The introduction of broadband services by Eircom and other carriers only came about because the flat-rate dialup was made available
- IOFFL's lobbying for the Group Data Scheme led to both the Government's Group Broadband Scheme and the setting up of the Group Data Scheme Society
Since its founding, IrelandOffline has changed its strategy and objectives as the market in Ireland has evolved. IrelandOffline's current objective is Affordable Internet access for all;
- Affordable -- comparable with other countries for comparable services.
- Internet -- functional narrowband access (that is, not at rates as low as the 14 kbit/s currently available to a substantial number of households), and proper broadband access.
- Access -- accessible to every household in the country.
External links
- IrelandOffline web site (http://www.irelandoffline.org)