Eircom plans to deploy a new type of broadband technology that will provide faster download speeds and may extend the reach of its current i-stream product.
I-stream is Eircom's flagship broadband service, which uses a technology called DSL, or digital subscriber line, to provide high-speed internet access to its customers.
The firm, which has been criticised because of the limited reach of its current broadband service, has asked the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to sanction deployment of the technology.
The new technology, ADSL2 Plus, marks a significant advance from the firm's existing DSL service. The main advantage of the technology is that it enables firms to transmit much more data along the copper wires that run into homes and businesses.
Detailed technical notes on the technology prepared by the telecoms consultancy Ovum show that ADSL2 Plus can double the amount of downloading capacity that is possible over phone lines.
The much higher capacity provided by ADSL 2 Plus makes the technology competitive for a range of multimedia activities such as video-on-demand or playing advanced video games.
Mr Michael Philpott, an analyst with Ovum, said the new technology could deliver speeds of 20 megabytes per second under certain circumstances. He said the technology could also extend the reach of broadband further than is currently possible using basic DSL broadband technology.
An Eircom spokeswoman confirmed last night that the company had applied to the regulator seeking approval to deploy ADSL 2 Plus. But she said the technology would "future-proof" the firm's network for speed rather than extend the reach of its existing broadband service.
Extending the reach of broadband has become a major political issue as many businesses and consumers still face problems getting connected to broadband services.
Eircom's i-stream service is not yet available to many consumers and businesses that are located more than four kilometres from a telephone exchange.
Poor line quality is also limiting broadband access in areas.
