David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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102. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of State investment in the metropolitan area networks to date; the number of towns where networks access is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38982/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are State owned, open access, underground telecommunications networks, linking the main commercial and public buildings to “co-location centres” where service providers locate their telecommunications equipment and access the network. MANs are available to licensed telecoms providers to enable them offer high-speed broadband to their retail customers without having to build their own networks. 88 MANs, covering 94 regional cities and towns, were constructed under the MANs Programme, at a cost of approximately €180m, of which 90% was funded by my Department and 10% by relevant Local Authorities. The MANs were built in two phases – 28 MANs were constructed in Phase I between 2002 and 2004 and 60 MANs covering 66 towns were constructed during Phase II between 2006 and 2009.

The MANs are managed, maintained and operated on an “open access” basis by a Management Services Entity (MSE). enet is currently the MSE for the MANs. The MSE provides fibre-based services and products to licensed telecommunications operators on a wholesale, open access basis. The MSE works with service providers to encourage them to use the MANs to provide downstream services for consumers and businesses. Further details relating to the MANs are available at .

This State-owned infrastructure has played an important role in driving competition in the regions and currently some 60 telecoms operators use the MANs fibre to provide services to end customers. These end customers include industrial estates, multinationals, SMEs, State entities, educational institutions, as well as fixed and mobile customers outside Dublin.