James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's interest in considering other possible options. A parallel path could be mapped out. The NBP is providing broadband to as much of the country as it can, particularly in those rural areas, but there is nothing stopping us from facilitating others in that regard. I welcome the Minister's commitment to accommodate competition in that space because I believe that competition lifts all boats. It is important to have a technology mix also because the NBP is predicated upon a fibre infrastructure, which we know is currently the scientifically fastest option, but from a practical point of view I refer to the likes of fixed wireless, which the Minister mentioned, although not satellite, which can create an expense. Other options that may be able to get services to certain areas faster, albeit that fibre is the ultimate choice, may be coming down the track at a later stage but getting a better service to certain areas sooner and then having fibre coming in in due course is something to keep an eye on.

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