Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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629. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the third tier broadband speed target, of a minimum of 30Mbps for every home and business, contained in the national broadband plan is still achievable within the lifetime of the Government; if he has received any new information to change his view; if he is working on the basis of a revised minimum target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47001/13]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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630. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with reference to written answers given recently concerning the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, what, in quantitative terms, he considers to be high speed broadband; if that refers to a minimum speed, a busy-hour speed, an average speed, an up-to speed or a contracted speed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47002/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 629 and 630 together.

The Digital Agenda for Europe sets a broadband target of 30Mbps for all Europeans by 2020, with at least 50% of EU households subscribing to broadband above 100Mbps by 2020. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing:

- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and

- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.

Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such services. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained.

The revised EU State Aid guidelines for next generation access envisage that any State intervention would:

- deliver services reliably at a very high speed per subscriber through optical (or equivalent technology) backhaul sufficiently close to user premises to guarantee the actual delivery of the very high speed;

- support a variety of advanced digital services; and

- have substantially higher upload speeds (compared to basic broadband networks).

These guidelines, which were published in January 2013, will critically inform the nature of the State intervention in the provision of high speed broadband as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan.

My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector, the results of which will inform the precise areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment. In addition, intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.

Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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631. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No.160 of 26 September 2013, his views on whether the regulatory and policy framework currently in place will assist in delivering the goals of the national broadband plan; the changes he intends to introduce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47003/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing:

- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and

- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.

Since the publication of the Plan, there is evidence that industry is investing beyond the targets to which they committed in the Plan. eircom has extended its plans for the rollout of high speed services to 1.2m premises, UPC has increased its minimum and top speed products to 120Mbps and 200Mbps respectively, and mobile operators are rolling out enhanced product offerings, including 4G mobile. These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by operators. Changes to planning and permitting regimes will also facilitate investment by the commercial sector, in line with the commitments in the National Broadband Plan. Furthermore, it is intended to commence a review of spectrum policy shortly with the intention to bring forward any necessary legislative changes.

The Government's National Digital Strategy complements the National Broadband Plan by seeking to stimulate demand for broadband. The initial phase is focussing on trading online and entrepreneurship, citizen engagement, and education and eLearning.

A trend towards the adoption of higher speeds is becoming evident, with 38% of customers subscribing to broadband speeds exceeding 10Mbps and 30% of customers contracting for speeds at or exceeding 30Mbps at end June 2013.

As regards the State-led intervention envisaged in the Plan, intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.

Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.