The number of broadband connections in Ireland contracted in the year to June last according to new data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Ireland had 20.3 fixed line broadband connections per 100 in habitants at the end of June 2010, compared to 21.3 in June 2009.
This compares to an average of 24.2 for the 31 nations surveyed by the OECD and 37.8 for the Netherlands, the top ranked nation.
For the first time, the OECD has included wireless broadband subscriptions in its survey. Including mobile handsets with data plans Ireland has 47.9 per cent penetration, placing the country sixth in the league table.
The average monthly subscription price in Ireland is $31.33 (€23.64) which makes it the fourth cheapest market in the OECD behind Britain ($30.80), Italy ($29.91) and Greece ($27.72).
There were 294 million fixed broadband subscriptions in June 2010 in the OECD area. This was up from 283 million in December 2009. The average penetration rate has grown to 24.3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants up from 23.3.
DSL is still the most widely used technology in the OECD, accounting for 58 per cent of all lines. Cable makes up 29 per cent and fibre based connections have grown to 12 per cent of all lines.