An Irish businessman has said installing a next generation network across Ireland is crucial for the country's businesses.
Mark Kellett, chief executive officer of Magnet, which offers internet connections for companies, told Silicon the advances to high bandwidth connectivity will mean Ireland's technology companies can boom.
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"Ireland is the last landfall between the US and Europe and if we have all the correct pieces in place in terms of the right fibre infrastructure, we will spawn our own technology companies and businesses that sell online," he added.
However, he said the country is still playing catch-up and that the economic and social future of Ireland relies on a next generation network being built.
His comments follow communications minister Eamon Ryan's recent unveiling of his framework document Next Generation Broadband: Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland.
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In it the plans to link up to the US's stranded fibre assets are detailed, in addition to providing next generation networks to 78 post-primary schools in Ireland.
The minister said the paper is "just the beginning" of the country's ambitions.