Written answers

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Broadband Services Provision

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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452. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the efforts that have been made to implement plans to have fibre-optic cables which will allow speeds 100 Mpb/s and greater, using fibre-to-the-home technology delivered to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7551/14]

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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453. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will indicate any policy change or implementation programme regarding the roll out to rural areas of broadband in particular to a location (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7558/14]

Photo of Dominic HanniganDominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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460. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the availability of broadband in an area (details supplied) in County Meath; the speeds that are currently being offered by the different providers; if his Department has verified these speeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7695/14]

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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475. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a satisfactory broadband service will be supplied in Cullohill, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8216/14]

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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476. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a satisfactory broadband service will be supplied in Ballaghmore, Borris in Ossory, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8217/14]

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if broadband services will be put in a place in a community (details supplied) where no such service is currently in place; the current stage of plans to provide such a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8263/14]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 452, 453, 460, 475, 476 and 478 together.

Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. The regulation of the industry, including regulatory issues surrounding speeds, is a matter for ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions. Details of broadband services available in each County can be found on a number of websites, including ComReg’s website at , as well as the websites of individual commercial operators.

The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses including those in Counties Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois and Meath. This will be achieved by providing:

- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and

- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.

Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In the fixed line segment of the market, eircom has announced plans to pass 1.4m addresses with its next generation broadband service, with speeds of up to 100Mbps, while UPC has increased its entry level and maximum speeds to 120Mbps and 200Mbps respectively. Mobile operators have also made announcements regarding network upgrades and are rolling out enhanced product offerings. The ESB Electronic Communications Bill, which I introduced last month, is a further step in promoting investment in competitively priced high speed broadband which is likely to include the prospect of fibre to the home services. The Bill will, when enacted, enable the ESB to utilise its electricity distribution network to provide telecommunications services in the Irish market.

I am aware of at least one service provider announcing that it will be providing advanced broadband services in a number of locations referred to in the Questions, including Kildare town in County Kildare, Borris in Ossory in County Laois and Dunshaughlin in County Meath before July 2016 and my Department will be happy to discuss this further with the Deputies concerned.

Many of these developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the rollout of services by operators.

In tandem with these developments, intensive work, including a comprehensive mapping exercise, continues in my Department in relation to the State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next generation broadband access. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained.

Under the national mapping exercise, information has been sought from all undertakings authorised by ComReg in relation to current and planned broadband services, both basic and next generation access (NGA). Mapping data has been submitted to my Department by a total of 23 operators and the process of analysing the data and supporting information is continuing. In many cases, this includes follow-up queries and requests for further information. The mapping data is being assessed on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the EU State Aid Guidelines. When all of the information has been analysed, a clear picture should emerge of coverage throughout all of the country. When this process is complete, it is my intention to publish a map showing existing and planned NGA broadband coverage, along with the Government’s proposals for a State-led intervention to roll out high speed broadband across the country.

In designing the procurement process for the intervention, my Department will be required to comply with the EU State aid rules which set out conditionality in relation to, among other things, technology neutrality. As different technological solutions exist to provide broadband services, no particular technology or network platform should be excluded. The EU State aid guidelines do, however, emphasise the role of fibre in assisting the delivery of high speed broadband through various platforms.

Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.

Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.

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