WorldCom Says Irish E-Commerce Threatened By Infrastructure Regulations

Robert Lee, Tax-news.com, London

15 March 2001

WorldCom, the US-based provider of local, long distance, international and Internet services, has criticised the adoption of infrastructure regulations by Dublin Corporation and the piecemeal approach to infrastructural development generally, warning that Ireland's e-commerce aspirations are threatened by the country's policy over its communications infrastructure.

WorldCom maintains offices in 65 countries and has built and operates area networks in major cities across Europe including Dublin, where it employs 200 people. Managing Director of WorldCom Ireland, David Hughes, said this week that Ireland's ability to become an e-commerce hub was endangered because of a failure to implement a national code of practice to co-ordinate the deployment of broadband communications infrastructure in the country.

Falling under the code of practice would be the utility companies which play such a large part in laying the vital infrastructure necessary for Ireland to pursue its e-commerce ambitions.

Mr Hughes was quoted in the Irish press this week as saying: 'The recent decision by Dublin Corporation to introduce new regulations governing the control and management of roadworks, without engaging in a consultation process with operators, highlights the difficulties facing utility companies in Ireland.'

WorldCom's principal grievance is Dublin Corporation's decision to impose impose a roadworks levy on telecoms operators opening up roadworks to lay their cable. The company said in a statement: 'This would place an intolerable burden on companies providing communication services within Ireland at a time when many global technology companies were reviewing their future investment strategies......This is a clear example of why we need a national Code of Practice.

Under the present system, every local authority in Ireland has its own (and often different) regulations governing how and when utility companies can lay infrastructure. Mr Hughes said: 'This fragmented approach has resulted in a chaotic situation where companies have to negotiate with myriad individual local authorities throughout the country. It is intolerable and must be addressed.'

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