Written answers

Thursday, 30 January 2014

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Broadband Services Provision

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ask the ESB to roll out fibre broadband to all households here on the passing of the ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4308/14]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013, if enacted, will provide an explicit legal basis to enable the ESB to engage, now or in the future, in the installation and operation of electronic communications networks and services, either alone or by agreement with one or more other companies, and to provide for consequential matters. Prior to formally entering the telecommunications market, either alone or in partnership with another operator, the ESB would also be required to separately secure shareholder consent and any other required statutory permissions.

The electronic communications networks and services markets, which the ESB is proposing to enter, are fully liberalised markets in accordance with EU legislative requirements. Service providers participating in those markets must act in accordance with the EU market economy investor principles which require, among other things, that capital investment should only occur in circumstances which would be acceptable to a rational private investor operating in normal market economy conditions. It is therefore the case, that the ESB's entry into this market would be on a commercial basis. I understand that ESB is considering a joint venture partnership with a telecommunications partner, with a view to rolling out high speed broadband utilising its extensive distribution network. I await with interest a formal proposal from ESB in this regard.

I have advised the House previously on progress in rolling out customers access to high speed broadband services. As of September last there were over 1.67 million broadband subscribers in Ireland, an increase of 1% on 2012. In the same period broadband subscriptions equal to or greater than 10 megabits per second increased to 42% from 31% of fixed line subscriptions and broadband subscriptions equal to or greater than 30 megabits per second increased to 33% from 20%.

The National Broadband Plan which I published in August 2012 commits to the delivery of high speed broadband across the country. The Plan acknowledges that its targets will be achieved by a combination of investment by the commercial market and a State intervention to serve areas that commercial criteria alone would not serve. Intensive work is underway to deliver on the various elements of the plan.

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