Higher prices 'would cut broadband use'

Users of broadband services would be discouraged from continuing their connection if line rental prices increased, a study shows.

Some three quarters of Irish net users said in a survey they would be less likely to either start a new broadband connection or continue to pay monthly for one if costs went up.

Emma O'Hare, a spokesperson for Digiweb, who conducted the survey, said: "There is clearly reluctance among Irish consumers to pay additional line rental charges ... they should be aware that broadband can be delivered over a number of platforms and paying line rental is often unnecessary just to get access to broadband and phone services."

She added that out of all European residents the Irish were already paying the most for their broadband line rental.

Other results of the study found that a large percentage of Irish people did not realise there were other ways to access broadband than paying for a home line rental deal.

Innovations like Wi-Fi which allows wireless internet access in towns and cities had not been head of by a quarter of respondents to the survey.