Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the reported deal between the national broadband scheme operator and a company (details supplied) for satellite services; the number of households he expects to be provided with satellite broadband; if this number has changed since the announcement of the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18778/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract guarantees that broadband connectivity will be available to 100% of the buildings within the NBS coverage areas. In recognition of the fact that some areas will be very costly and technologically challenging to reach using standard infrastructure, a limited number of residences and businesses in the NBS coverage area may be covered by a satellite service.

The NBS contract defines specific thresholds and circumstances under which satellite can be deployed and allows for a maximum of 8% of buildings to be served utilising satellite technology. It is anticipated that the actual deployment of satellite will be around 5% of residences and businesses within the NBS coverage area. It is a matter for the NBS service provider, "3", to decide where a satellite solution will be deployed, provided that the overall number of satellite users does not exceed defined thresholds for each county and the NBS coverage area as a whole.

The NBS contract guarantees that the satellite service will deliver minimum speeds of 1 megabit download and 128 kilobits upload with a maximum contention ratio of 48:1, a round-trip latency of 800 milliseconds and an 11 gigabyte (10 down, 1 up) inclusive monthly allowance limit. Regardless of the technology deployed, the same monthly charge of €19.99 and the same install cost of €49 apply.

As a commercial matter, 3 has selected Avanti to provide the guaranteed satellite service levels and I understand that 3 has entered into a contract with Avanti on a non-exclusive basis.