Mr. Patrick Neary:

The overall policy on efficient spectrum use resides with the Minister. Obviously the Minister could direct ComReg in that respect. The coverage obligations are set out and awarded by ComReg. The multi-band spectrum award that was conducted in 2012 set out the main obligations that apply today. They were set across three main spectrum bands. They obligated operators to provide 70% coverage by population. That was in 2012. Since then there has been an award of 3.5 GHz spectrum in 2017. Ireland became the first country in Europe to award 5G spectrum at that time. It was awarded in nine different areas, five urban and four rural. That was done on a site basis. There was an obligation for several sites to be deployed within a three-year timeline. Ireland has been the European forerunner in 5G deployment, granting an award in 2017 and seeing the fruits of that now.

The target for 5G deployment in Europe called for deployment in one major city in Ireland. 5G services are available in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. The target was to put main thoroughfares in place and to launch 5G in the countryside. Some three operators have fully launched a 5G service to some extent.

I would like to direct the members' attention to the State's next major award, which will be the multi-band spectrum award in 2021. It represents an increase of almost 450% in the spectrum available for operators. ComReg is currently finalising the details of the obligations which will go with that. The obligations currently envisioned by ComReg for that auction include 99% population coverage, 92% geographical coverage, coverage of motorways and primary roads and specific obligations around voice quality. The obligations also include the requirement to cover specific locations, including hospitals, educational campuses, ports and airports and 42 tourist visitor locations. The next award will have a very different emphasis to the 2012 award. That is the direction of travel where spectrum awards are concerned. That award is still being finalised and is due to be granted in the first half of next year.