Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position in respect of the metropolitan area networks of high capacity fibre optic cable; the name of each MANs town; the cost of the MANs for that town; the length in kilometres of the network per town; the number of customers in each town; the grant per customer in each town; the number of customers who have opted out; the estimated ongoing maintenance costs per town; the cost to date for the MANs project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17749/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Under Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme twenty-seven MANs have been constructed. All twenty-seven are operational and open for business. The construction of an additional 59 MANs covering 65 towns has been completed under Phase II of the Programme and the construction of the final Phase II MAN is expected to be completed in early 2010.

The MANs were constructed in partnership with the local and regional authorities and were co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund. The cost of the Phase I MANs Programme was approximately €85 million. The cost of the Phase II MANs Programme to date excluding associated programme management costs is approximately €87 million. The appendix herewith details completed Phase I and Phase II networks, the length of the network per town and the overall cost per region. The MANs were constructed on a regional basis therefore the cost associated with the construction of the network are not broken down by town.

Service providers are deemed as "customers" of the MANs. In other words, a service provider, as a customer of a MAN, uses the MAN to offer services on to the service provider's own customers. 34 service providers are currently offering services on the Phase I MANs and 4 service providers are currently offering services on the Phase II MAN. Service providers use the MANs to compete for voice and data services over a range of platforms including: · Unbundled local loop; · Mobile wireless; · Fixed wireless; · Cable; · Partial private circuits; and · Directly connected fibre.

Information relating to the use of the MANs by service providers, including the numbers of customers served by each service provider, the number of customers who have opted out and ongoing maintenance costs, is commercially sensitive and a matter for the Management Services Entity and each service provider. Phase I Metropolitan Area Networks

Phase II Metropolitan Area Networks