Mr. Fergal Mulligan:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to provide it with an update on the progress in delivering on the targets set out under Ireland's digital connectivity strategy. I am joined by Mr. O'Donoghue, Mr. Brown and Ms Barron.

This strategy is a commitment that by 2028, every household and business in Ireland will have access to a gigabit broadband service, that by 2030, 5G coverage will be available to all populated areas and that by the close of this year, all schools and broadband connection points, BCPs, will have access to high-speed broadband. The importance of high-speed, quality and reliable broadband is now more evident than ever. After the pandemic, Ireland has, for example, seen a significant transition to hybrid working and remote education.

In recent years, commercial investment in full fibre broadband has consistently increased. These commercial investments, together with the State-backed investment across rural Ireland, will see gigabit broadband rolled out across the State and to all citizens. Recent ComReg reports show a 33% year-on-year increase in full fibre subscriptions, with over 600,000 premises now connected to a gigabit network.

The largest roll-out is underway by Eir, which is rolling out a full fibre connection to the premise network to up to 1.9 million premises and to date, we understand has passed over 1.1 million homes. SIRO has recently reached a milestone of enabling over 555,000 premises for full fibre and is on track to reach 700,000 premises by 2026 through a €1 billion investment. Virgin Media recently announced a €200 million investment plan to upgrade its cable network to bring full fibre to up to 1 million premises over the next three years and recently passed more than 250,000 premises. Eir's 5G network roll-out continues to expand, with coverage to over 70% of the population in all 26 counties. Vodafone's 5G network is currently live in selected areas across 26 counties in Ireland. Three Ireland's 5G network has 85% population coverage. In quarter 4 of 2022, there were 988,000 5G mobile subscriptions, representing a 152% year-on-year increase, and almost 18% of all mobile subscriptions.

The State's investment in NBI is a key enabler for achieving the goals outlined in the digital connectivity strategy. This commitment from Government of up to €2.7 billion will ensure that the future of gigabit connectivity is not just envisaged but is realised well in advance of the target of 2030 set down by the European Commission under its Digital Decade policy.

With the establishment of the digital connectivity office in the Department, the Government is ensuring that every citizen has access to adequate broadband and voice services. This extends to bringing forward proposals under the recently enacted regulations around universal service for broadband and voice, and working with stakeholders through the mobile phone and broadband task force to ensure barriers to investment are removed, where possible.

While NBI will provide full details of its progress to the committee, we understand from its latest reporting to the Department that it has now passed more than 200,000 premises, which is three months ahead of their revised annual target of 185,000. NBI believes it will pass over 300,000 premises by the end of 2024, which will represent over 50% of the national roll-out. NBI also reports that 60,000 premises have now been connected. To date, the level of connections is exceeding initial projections. NBI is connecting circa 3,500 homes each month and expects to have connected over 65,000 by the end of the year. NBI has expressed confidence that it will complete the full roll-out of fibre to all premises by the end of 2026.

The Government and NBI agreed to accelerate the roll-out of high-speed broadband to some 672 primary schools across the State in the intervention area. NBI has confirmed that this acceleration will be complete by the end of 2023, with only three schools remaining to be connected. This will ensure that all schools across the State will have the necessary infrastructure to carry out their critical day-to-day educational activities unimpeded by poor broadband. There is some further work to be carried out by the Department of Education to install some equipment in schools before the broadband service goes live and this will be completed in the coming months.

BCPs are a key element of the national broadband plan, NBP, providing high-speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll-out of the fibre to the home network. ome 295 BCPs, which are publicly accessible sites, have been installed and the wireless high-speed broadband service has been switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. All of these locations will migrate to full fibre broadband once NBI has reached that area.

The Government contract with NBI requires that every premises on every island in the intervention area will be provided with access to gigabit connectivity as part of the overall NBI deployment. To date, NBI has completed fibre deployment activity on 10 islands off counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Cork, namely, Eighter, Eadarinis and Inishcoo, Rutland, Inishfree, Carrowholly, Inishlyre, Turbot, Inishturk South, Heir and Long islands. Premises on these islands can now order broadband services with a minimum speed of 500 Mbps. NBI is progressing a further five islands through the design phase. Those island are Owey, Dursey, Horse, Inishbiggle and Achillbeg islands. Sherkin, Cape Clear and Bere islands will be surveyed by the end of 2023. An additional six islands will commence fibre survey and design activity in 2024. These are Tory, Arranmore, Inis Mór, Inis Oírr, Inis Meáin and Inisbofin islands. The Department continues to work with NBI and local stakeholders to accelerate the roll-out to some of the larger islands, such as Valentia and Achill islands.

We will, through the combined efforts of all stakeholders involved, of which there are many, realise a digital Ireland that is inclusive, progressive and leading on the global stage. We are taking on this task and this journey with the assurance that we are building not just for today but for generations to come and to serve all citizens regardless of how remote or rural. We look forward to assisting the committee members with any questions they may have.