Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

More often than not, this Chamber hears about issues which have not been dealt with rather than those which have been resolved. The issue relating to the 4G network is again one which relates to the urban-rural divide. The obligation in this regard is that providers must reach 70% of the population with their services. One could argue that the most densely populated areas of the country are in the east and that it would be quite easy to meet the obligation in these areas. I understand the authorities in the United Kingdom, when carrying out their auction, stipulated that operators should seek to reach 98% of the public in towns and villages, not just in large urban areas. I am concerned that we will again end up with an urban-rural divide in this matter or that there will be no coverage at extremely remote locations. There have been massive improvements in technology in recent years, but there are still vast areas of this country in which operators have not been able to provide coverage. Will the Minister comment on the fact that the service obligation figure in this country is only 70%, whereas in the United Kingdom it is 98%?

See this speech in context