Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding a metropolitan area network in County Donegal (details supplied); the timescale for connecting the backhaul; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17502/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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All the metropolitan area networks (MANs) including the MAN in Carndonagh are managed and operated by e|net who were appointed following a procurement process and who make the networks available to the telecommunications sector.

All connections to the MANs are wholesale connections which may be used by the relevant service provider to provide services to multiple end users. This means that any service provider can use the network without having to privately invest and replicate network footprints throughout the country.

It should be noted that before a backhaul solution is put in place in any MAN town, there needs to be demand for MAN based services. This would typically be a business which incurs telecoms charges in excess of €1000.

In the case of the Carndonagh MAN, e|net has been exploring various backhaul options with operators in the area. In the event that a business premises in Carndonagh requires broadband services delivered over a fibre connection, e|net would set out the possible options and costs. However, there has been insufficient market demand for fibre connections in Carndonagh to date. e|net remains available at all times to discuss the options for connection to the MAN in Carndonagh with interested parties.