Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if measures will be brought forward for enabling the rollout of VoIP technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27875/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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VoIP is the technical term for the transmission of voice over telecommunications networks using the Internet protocol standard. The increased use of Internet protocol technology is changing the way telecommunications networks are designed and operated. It is expected that the early adoption of this technology will lead to the more cost effective delivery of telecommunications in the future.

A number of telecommunications operators providing service in the Irish marketplace have already deployed this technology in their telecommunications networks. In addition to this, a number of the group broadband schemes, which my Department is grant aiding, have indicated that they will be deploying this technology for the benefit of users connected to their networks.

My Department is considering announcing a call in the near future to assist operators in the trial and adoption of VoIP technology. It is hoped that this will help to accelerate the take up of this technology and the delivery of cost effective telecommunications services to the public.