Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The three consortia involved in the national broadband plan are saying that for the vast majority of homes they will provide fibre to the door. The European Commission is talking about 1,000 Mbps going to homes across the country. We cannot do that with wireless technology at the moment. Wireless can meet our short-term need and that is why I am supporting wireless. I have met with all the wireless operators and I have actively encouraged them. They have raised a number of bottlenecks in the system which I am addressing. This is why I am releasing the 3.6 GHz spectrum, specifically to allow the wireless networks to roll it out pending the roll-out of the national broadband plan.

People will not need up to 1,000 Mbps in rural areas in the next five or ten years, but they may need it in 15 years. Deputy Eugene Murphy will acknowledge that the most rural constituency in the country, bar none, is Roscommon-Galway. I know, because I am getting it in the neck first hand about the problems there. I am determined to ensure this network is rolled out in every single constituency and county together. Nobody will be first and nobody will be last. Everybody will get access to a high-speed network, no matter how isolated they are.

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