Mr. Jeremy Godfrey:

I will reply to the Deputy's question about fixed wireless. He asked if it is possible to optimise the mix of fibre and fixed wireless. That is fundamentally a matter for NBI and the Government to work out. The Government has a service standard that is required in the tender process. The mix of technologies used to meet the standard is not something that ComReg has modelled. However, I can provide a little more information because two years ago we completed an assignment of spectrum in the 3.6 GHz band. That spectrum is useful for 5G in urban contexts but is also useful for fixed wireless in rural contexts. We made sure that we brought forward and progressed that spectrum award so that bidders in the NBP procurement would have the opportunity to buy that spectrum if they thought it was going to be useful. We also assigned that spectrum on a regional basis with some rural lots and some urban lots so that options were available.

What happened is that there is at least one operator deploying fixed wireless using that spectrum on a commercial basis in rural areas. I take this personally because my family home is in north Cork, 5 km from the nearest village.

I am fortunate enough to be able to see the mast from my house so I have quite a good broadband service; it is much better than I ever had when it was provided on the copper network. My neighbours keep saying that they cannot see the mast because of the topography and the location of the trees. I actually put a repeater on my chimney for one of my neighbours in order that they can get service. That illustrates both the potential and also the difficulties of using fixed wireless in these areas. What the optimum choice to be made by NBI in rolling out its network will be is unclear. Many people have been working with the Government on the network design. For some lucky customers, there is the potential to get services from commercial operators. It is certainly a possibility but the optimum mix is not something that ComReg has a mandate to decide.