Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I support proposals to conduct an audit of the quality of service experienced by broadband service customers compared to the quality of service advertised by suppliers. Ideally, this study would be conducted in a manner which would also permit international comparisons.

In June 2009 the European Commission published an invitation to tender for a contract to conduct a study and prepare a report on the quality of broadband services available to customers in the European Union. The emphasis of this study, as proposed, was on measuring real time customer experience across the European Union compared to the speeds and other quality of service parameters advertised by broadband service providers.

In January last, the European Commission announced that following a thorough assessment of the eight bids it had received, it had decided that none provided sufficient guarantees that reliable robust data would be obtained. The Commission therefore decided to close the tender process without awarding a contract. In its announcement, the Commission also indicated it may recommence this procurement procedure.

Following informal contacts between my Department and the European Commission on its likely plans to re-tender and the likely duration of the study after the award of any contract, which would be expected to be nine months or more, I have decided to commence a study of broadband speeds available to customers in Ireland independently of the proposed wider EU study. My Department has commenced drafting an invitation to tender document. The formal invitation to participate and the contract award process will accord with competitive public procurement arrangements. I expect the tender document to be available to participating parties shortly.

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