Update: Broadband Speed – Communications, Energy & Natural Resources 23rd October, 2014

[Ref No.: 40862/14]

*  To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which provision is being made to bring broadband speed and quality up to best international standards in both urban and rural areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Bernard J. Durkan.

*    For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 23rd October, 2014.

(659  Received on 20th October, 2014.)

Ref No: 40867/14 Proof: 217

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which broadband and/or mobile telephonic communication quality here compares with other European and global jurisdictions; whether any specific measures are afoot to address any obvious deficiencies in this regard, whether through direct negotiation with the service providers or in conjunction with the Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Bernard J. Durkan.

 * For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 23rd October, 2014. Ref No: 40867/14 Proof: 217

REPLY

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White)
I propose to take Questions Nos 189 and 194 together.

The provision of broadband services occurs within a fully liberalised market. The commercial 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 many urban areas 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.

Under 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(s) 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.