Consumers are being offered a free three-month trial of broadband internet services by telecoms firm Esat BT in an effort to spur demand for the product.
Esat BT, the second-biggest fixed-line telephone operator in the Republic, announced the offer yesterday and said the trial carried no obligation to sign up for the product or pay a fee.
Broadband services enable consumers to download information from the Web at speeds many times faster than by using a traditional dial up modem.
It is estimated that, to date, more than 40,000 consumers in the Republic have signed up for broadband.
The free trial should help Esat BT to compete more aggressively with Eircom, the market leader for broadband.
Ms Angela Keegan, director of residential and SME at Esat BT, said that the offer was being made to stimulate demand for broadband.
"When you compare Ireland to other EU countries such as France, we are way behind. So we are doing our best to stimulate the Irish market," she added.
Customers interested in a free trial of Esat BT's broadband internet service IOL Broadband should register there interest on its website, www.iol.ie.
