Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

25. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he envisages the Government will roll out broadband to those in remote rural areas and areas, not considered commercially viable for high speed broadband; if he has considered case studies done in other European countries and their approach to broadband roll-out in remote areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16282/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.

It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.

Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy. The strategy will address a range of issues in relation to the intervention including the optimum procurement model, ownership model for the infrastructure, intervention cost and likely market impact. This is an important part of the detailed work that is being undertaken to finalise the intervention strategy. As part of the strategy development, my Department is examining the experiences, solutions and methodologies used in EU countries and further afield in the development of broadband in those countries. The information gathered from this examination will inform the development of the Intervention Strategy. In addition, the Steering Group for the programme includes two UK and one French telecoms adviser.

Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy during the summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.

The Department will design a tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost of the network build as low as possible. I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.

This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.