Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when 4G telecommunications will be available here; the benefits that will accrue to the country; the way that he plans to support these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27845/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended.

In November 2012 ComReg announced the results of its successful Multi-Band Spectrum Award (MBSA) process which resulted in a total licence yield of €855 million to be paid over the duration of the terms of the licences (from 2013 to 2020).

These spectrum bands are highly suitable for advanced mobile services due to their excellent propagation properties, which allow for wide area coverage and improved in-building reception.

It is a condition of a Liberalised Use Licence that a minimum 70% population coverage obligation is to be achieved by a licensee within 3 years of its licence commencement date. I am advised that ComReg considers that actual coverage levels are expected to exceed this obligation given the competitive nature of the market and the limited risk of roll-back of coverage from current higher levels.

While the four Liberalised Use Licences of the Mobile Network Operators commenced on 1 February 2013, the timing and extent of each of ‘4G’ (Long Term Evolution (LTE)) network rollout is, with the exception of the above coverage obligation, a matter for the operators themselves. I understand however that some operators have plans to commence services later this year.