The Economist Intelligence Unit report that places Ireland 17th of 70 countries in the digital economy rankings is welcome. Ireland has moved up one place since last year, swapping positions with Germany. Previously entitled the “e-readiness rankings”, the 2010 Digital Economy Ranking from examines the ability of the world’s largest economies to use information and communications technology (ICT) for economic and social benefit.

Based on the developments of the year to date, Ireland has scored 7.82 of a possible ten marks.

“This is welcome progress that reflects a variety of positive developments, facilitated by pro-enterprise Government policy, including the high level of private and public sector funding invested in broadband over recent years. To be ranked 17th of 70 of the world’s largest economies, is encouraging, but it does not demonstrate the full potential of Ireland’s digital economy.

Very recent and forthcoming policy developments, if taken into account, would tell a different story. The Government has set out an ambitious communications policy that invests in new, disruptive technologies and is also facilitating the rollout of widespread, high-speed broadband.

Our first-in-the-world exemplar network begins testing later this month, and we are in discussions with the European Commission on a further rural broadband scheme. Project Kelvin, a new high-speed international connectivity project, is nearing completion, as is the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). The NBS will see Ireland beat the EU’s target of full availability of broadband throughout Member States by three (EU target is end 2013).

On broadband, subscription numbers are well over 1.5 million. The cable operator UPC and Eircom are preparing to increase their products to allow them to deliver speeds of 100 megabits per second. The last three years have been about doing the hard work, delivering on the policy so that after a decade of under-investment, Ireland could catch up. We have moved beyond catch-up – a number of our projects are nearing completion, the effects of which are beginning to emerge.

These will be supplanted with newer policy developments, which taken with private sector investment, will set Ireland on a path of continued progress. Our digital sector is on an upward trajectory, and I am confident future rankings will be too.