John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his preferred or chosen options or methodology for use in the context of upgrading, expanding and extending the quality and availability of broadband services throughout all parts of the country; the degree to which he expects annual investment in the infrastructure to ensure provision of a modern telecommunication infrastructure in keeping with the needs of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11426/07]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the demand and level of use of broadband; the expected developments in this area of communication; if safety measures will be built into the system to address some of the issues of concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11245/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the telecommunication deficiencies throughout the country resulting in a lack of broadband services to the commercial and domestic sectors resulting in serious economic disadvantage; if he will address this issue in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11468/07]

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in the context of the National Development Plan, current projections in respect of broadband or other investment in the telecommunications sector have been identified as a means of economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11445/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 108, 158 and 179 together.

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. The Government is addressing the infrastructure deficit in the regions by building high-speed, open access, carrier neutral Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in 120 towns and cities nationwide, on a phased basis in association with the local and regional authorities. Twenty-seven of these have been completed with the remaining due for completion during 2007 and 2008. These Metropolitan Area Networks will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs.

Complementary to the MAN networks, the recently concluded Group Broadband Scheme (GBS) has funded over 120 projects specifically aimed at smaller communities.

I am aware of the importance of advanced telecommunication services to the continuing economic prosperity of this country and there is no evidence that the commercial sector is at a disadvantage due to a lack of broadband facilities. The Government considers investment in and development of the telecommunications sector including broadband to be an important factor in determining long-term national economic competitiveness. There is provision for investment of €435 million under the Communications and Broadband Programme in the National Development Plan over the period 2007-2013, and this will facilitate e continued growth in the telecommunications sector.

However, despite Government and private investment in broadband I am aware that there are still some parts of the country where the private sector is unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband connectivity.

A Steering Committee comprising officials from the Department and ComReg is currently finalising a proposed scheme, entitled the National Broadband Scheme which will address the question of availability of broadband to unserved areas. The Steering Committee has meet with Service Providers and key stakeholders on the National Broadband Scheme. This scheme, when it is fully rolled out, will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband from houses and premises in unserved areas are met. Work on the design of an appropriate public tender is underway.

There has been a large increase in the number of operators who offer broadband services. There is also evidence of an increase in the numbers taking up alternative means of accessing broadband, i.e. cable broadband and fixed wireless. The use of fixed wireless local access is increasing, especially in rural areas that cannot obtain DSL connectivity, and the development of Wi-Max offers considerable potential in the future.

Enormous progress has been made in the roll out of broadband in the past two years. The official number of subscribers in October 2004 stood at 63,600. Estimates from ComReg suggest that there were more than 515,000 subscribers at the end of 2006 (final figures for 2006 are expected shortly from ComReg). I recently issued a new challenge to industry to reach 700,000 subscribers by the end of 2007.

The migration to Next Generation Networks is being considered by Service Providers and will generate many issues with wide implications for regulation, competition, investment and service delivery that need to be addressed.

To achieve this migration, I intend to establish a National Advisory Forum to advise me on progress towards Next Generation Networks. The Forum will be charged with having a precise blueprint in place by the end of 2007 on the migration. I would point out that the migration to Next Generation Networks will not be made at the expense of our current broadband rollout.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he will establish the National Advisory Forum on Next Generation Networks; the persons who will be a member of the Forum and the Forum's mandate; the regularity with which the Forum will meet; the timeframe for the publication of its first report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11354/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures he will bring forward to facilitate the progression of IP based next generation networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11353/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 148 together.

I am aware that the development of a world class telecommunications sector is important to the continuing economic and social prosperity of our country. I believe that the migration to and development of Next Generation Networks (NGNs) will provide the necessary platform for the telecommunications sector going forward.

The migration to Next Generation Networks is being considered by Service Providers and will generate many issues with wide implications for regulation, competition, investment and service delivery that need to be addressed.

To this end I consider that it is important that all stakeholders — the industry, the Regulator and the Government work together to ensure that Irish businesses and consumers have choice and that competitive products are being offered.

To help achieve the progression to Next Generation Networks (NGNs) I recently announced my intention to establish a National Advisory Forum which will be tasked with advising me on progress towards NGNs. Details concerning the Forum, including its membership are being finalised. I intend to mandate the Forum to report by the end of 2007 with a blueprint on the migration to NGNs.