Ireland’s report card on high-speed broadband reads ‘Must Do Better’, after the EU Commission published a report which showed Ireland falls well behind the European average for fixed line broadband.

However the report also showed Ireland now has above average mobile broadband penetration at 60% for all active users, which means Ireland ranks fifth in the EU.

DSL still remains the most common broadband technology but the share of non-DSL broadband lines has increased with the majority of growth in the sector coming from cable broadband.

Ireland is now however leading the EU in the field of eGovernment.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: “Europeans are hungry for digital technologies and more digital choices, but governments and industry are not keeping up with them.

“This attachment to 20th century policy mindsets and business models is hurting Europe’s economy. It’s a terrible shame. We are shooting ourselves in the foot by under-investing. Europe will be flattened by its global competitors if we continue to be complacent.”