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

I thank Deputy Sherlock for his good wishes. The national broadband plan aims to deliver high-speed broadband services to every household, school and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector, and for those areas that will not be covered by commercial operators, the State has committed to intervene and subsidise a network build in order that nobody, no matter how isolated, is left behind. A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies which will roll out a new high-speed broadband network within the State intervention area. The procurement process is being intensively managed to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland for at least 25 years. The timeframe for the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders during the procurement process.

There is no universal service obligation, USO, for high-speed broadband provision or mobile voice services in Ireland. The current EU and national regulatory framework for telecommunications relates solely to voice telephony and functional Internet access, which is 28.8 kilobits per second, kbps, and is provided for under the current EU regulatory framework governing telecoms. In September 2016, the European Commission published an ambitious proposal for the regulation of the European telecoms sector, which aims to incentivise and encourage increased investment in high-speed broadband networks. Negotiations on the review of the EU regulatory framework give Ireland an opportunity to seek inclusion of a USO in respect of high-speed broadband connectivity.

In that regard, I have raised at EU level the issue of a USO for high-speed broadband. I am seeking inclusion of a specific provision in the new framework that would allow member states to apply a USO for high-speed broadband where such networks are available.

My Department is also in discussion with the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, as to whether a USO may be a viable instrument in instances where a high-speed broadband network is available but individual premises cannot access such services at an affordable price.

See this speech in context