Broadband provider Digiweb is doubling its staff to 120 as it opens new offices in Limerick and Citywest, Co Dublin.

The expansion comes as Digiweb prepares to introduce a new wireless product that will combine voice with high-speed internet and digital TV services.

Digiweb, holder of the largest number of State contracts to supply broadband to Irish schools, already employs 60 staff at offices in Waterford and Dundalk, Co Louth. The company is investing some €3 million in the new service.

"The planned new telephony and broadband services will extend to many more customers than existing broadband offerings can reach, and will not require customers to have a traditional phone line to avail of full telephone, broadband and enhanced media services," Digiweb said. "Digiweb have no reliance on Eircom or local loop unbundling to launch this network."

The company said the new network will be available to more than 70 per cent of the population by the end of the year. Digiweb has also promised to open the new network to rival operators who wish to avail of its wholesale "last-mile" access to provide their own telecoms services.

"In March of this year we promised that Digiweb would redefine broadband in Ireland before the end of 2005 and over the coming weeks we will make good on our promise," said managing director Colm Piercy.