Update: Broadband and Mobile Telephone Technology – Communicatios, Energy & Natural Resources 23rd October, 2014

[Ref No.: 40328/14]

 To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which comparisons have been made with the standard, quality, availability and speed of broadband and mobile telephone communications technology in this country with those available in competing European or other jurisdictions worldwide; if the full significance of the need for state-of-the-art quality in these areas is recognised; if any examination has been done with a view to identifying the means whereby such vital elements of our infrastructure may be upgraded as a matter of urgency thereby facilitating economic progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Bernard J. Durkan.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 23rd October, 2014.

(14  Received on 16th October, 2014.)

REPLY

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White)
The provision of broadband services occurs within a fully liberalised market. The commecial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6m of the 2.3m addresses in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next number of years. Mobile service providers are now also rolling out 4G mobile services and upgrading 3G services.

The broadband speeds available in Ireland are as capable as the highest marketed speeds available in many comparable economies. Comparisons of broadband statistics concentrate on the headline or average broadband speeds marketed by the largest operators in each country. However these comparisons do not measure access to those high speeds within any country.

Through the National Broadband Plan the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention.

Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. My Department is currently finalising a national map which will identify those areas that require a State intervention. As part of the mapping process, a stakeholder consultation was launched in June. 32 submissions have been received and non-commercially sensitive versions of these responses were published by my Department earlier today.

I expect to publish the map shortly. Those accessing this map will be able to identify their own house or premises and see whether it is in the proposed intervention footprint. Where a house or premises is not in the proposed intervention area it means it either currently, or will in the near future, have access to commercial high speed broadband services. The map will be subject to change as new information becomes available or commercial investments are announced in the future.

A further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy will be launched in mid-2015. My Department is also working closely with the European Commission with a view to obtaining State Aid clearance for the programme.

A detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder or bidders towards the end of 2015.

This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland. Our goal is to ensure that quality broadband services are available to all citizens regardless of where they are located.