Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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447. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the licensing process for a company to provide a mobile telephone service; if there is an ongoing assessment of a company's investment in telecommunications infrastructure to provide appropriate coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31611/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the terms of licences issued by the telecommunications regulator, ComReg, Mobile Network Operators are required to provide a minimum level of national population coverage. The design of the network is a matter entirely for the operator concerned although operators tend to exceed their minimum coverage requirements for commercial reasons. However, given that mobile telephone services are a radio based technology, services can be affected by several factors including topography, the capacity of the network and more generally the quality of access customers have to mobile telephone antennas.

Complaints regarding mobile telephone coverage are a matter in the first instance for the operator. Complaints can also be escalated to ComReg which has a role in ensuring licence requirements such as coverage obligations are met. ComReg monitors compliance with licence requirements by means of biannual drive tests. I understand that current testing is designed to cover all primary and secondary national routes, with measurements being performed on all Mobile Networks.

ComReg's 2012 multiband spectrum auction has released additional radio spectrum previously unavailable for mobile operators. This is expected to further improve the coverage and quality of mobile service throughout the country. Since the auction, three mobile operators have launched 4G high speed mobile broadband services and roll-out is continuing. There has also been continued investment by all operators in enhancing and broadening 3G services and network improvements.

I would also point out that Local Authorities have a strong role to play in facilitating the roll-out of the necessary telecommunications infrastructure to help enable service availability throughout the country. This is a matter which has been raised by telecommunications services providers and is reflected in the Government's National Broadband Plan, which commits to addressing barriers to deployment of services.