Mr. Jeremy Godfrey:

I thank the Deputy for the comments on the coverage map and on mobile coverage. We believe this is a very important issue. People having connectivity on the move is very important. It is a matter that the previous committee discussed with ComReg quite often. One of the things we have done is provide the coverage maps. Some people may have good coverage from one operator but not from another so it is easy for them to choose the right operator. We have done a few things to help people with indoor service, as I mentioned earlier. While we are all very happy to have better service in more populous communities, we are concerned about communities being left behind. We did some studies and to cover 100% of the land area of Ireland would be phenomenally expensive. We are in a forthcoming spectrum auction so probably in the first or second quarter next year we will have major licence awards. One of the important characteristics of that will be the coverage obligations that go with those new licences. We have proposed much more demand in coverage obligations than have been in previous licences.

We will ask operators to provide a 3 Mbps service to 99% of the population and 92% of the geographic area of Ireland, and a 30 Mbps service, which is a much faster service, to 95% of the population, as well as to cover areas like motorways, primary roads and specific locations like business and technology parks, hospitals, higher education campuses, transport hubs, and visitor attractions. While that will not result in 100% coverage, it is something that we think is at the upper limit of what is commercially and financially feasible to do. We will make sure that happens within a reasonable time.