Written answers

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Telecommunications Services

8:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which broadband availability and speed here is sufficient to compete with other jurisdictions worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19001/09]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 62% of Irish households and 83% of Irish SMEs now have a broadband connection. According to ComReg's Q4 Key Data Report 68% of business subscriptions in Ireland are in the 2 – 10 Mbps range. 60% of residential subscriptions in Ireland are in the 2 – 10Mbps range while 35% are in the 1 – 2 Mbps range.

Higher speeds, in some cases up to 50Mbps are also available to residential and SME customers in urban areas. For example, speeds of up to 24Mbps are available from DSL providers, 50Mbps products are available from fibre operators and 20Mbps products are available from cable operators.

The latest OECD report, which includes data up to June 2008, is testament to the considerable improvement of recent years. It shows that Ireland had the fourth strongest per capita broadband subscription growth of the 30 countries ranked. With similar fast uptake of broadband noted in previous reports, Ireland has closed the gap on the OECD average with our improvement over the past 2 years. Additionally, it should be noted that mobile broadband, which is very popular with Irish broadband subscribers, is not yet published for the purposes of international statistical comparisons. However, mobile broadband statistics are expected to be published by the OECD in the future reports. The publication of mobile broadband statistics is expected to improve Ireland's ranking further.

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Rollout of services commenced in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010.

Additionally, a consultation paper on Next Generation Broadband, which was launched for public consultation last year, considered the optimum role for Government in facilitating the roll out of high speed broadband networks and set out the Government's commitments in that regard. A central commitment is that there will be universal access to broadband by 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in comparator EU regions. The final report will be published shortly and will set the strategic policy framework for investment in high speed broadband.

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