Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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380. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which mobile phone technology and quality of service here compares with the best available throughout Europe and worldwide; if it is possible to encourage the service providers to take any particular initiatives to improve and upgrade the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20413/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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An EU Commission comparison of “3G” mobile telephony coverage across the EU states for 2010 ranks Ireland 6th highest for coverage at 99.5% compared to an EU average of 89.9%.

The award of spectrum licences including the imposition and monitoring of associated quality and coverage requirements to provide mobile telephony services, are statutory functions of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) as provided for by the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended.

In late 2012 ComReg concluded a process to allocate access to radio spectrum suitable for use in the provision of the next generation “4G” mobile telephone services. The “4G” technology is the most modern currently available to support mobile phone services, which the successful applicants are expected to commence rolling out later this year. It is a matter for ComReg to impose and monitor compliance by the successful applicants with the terms and conditions of the spectrum allocation process.