Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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565. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the definition of 5G; if there will be nationwide 5G coverage; and if he will provide a timeframe and cost for such coverage in view of the fact that the Government has now signed an international commitment on this. [39121/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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On 18 July 2017 at the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Telecommunications and Competitiveness in Tallinn, the Minister for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Seán Kyne TD, signed the 5G Declaration for Europe, along with colleagues from all 28 EU Member States.

The 5G declaration of intent confirms the willingness of EU Member States to position Europe as a global leader in digital. 5G commonly refers to the 5th generation of mobile network services proposed to replace the current 4G standards of mobile telecommunication. 5G is the future network infrastructure which will allow for the level of connectivity required to support new digital services, such as smart homes and smart agriculture, which will harness data to boost efficiencies. Such services will have the potential to transform how we live and work in the future.

Coverage and Connectivity are core issues in the Declaration and Ireland believes strongly in connectivity for every citizen, as evidenced by our National Broadband Plan which aims to ensure high speed broadband for every home and business in Ireland. With its extensive geographic spread, this network will support the future roll-out of 5G on a wide geographic basis, supporting backhaul for mobile markets, so that all communities across the country may benefit from the advantages that 5G will bring.

Ireland is firmly committed to rolling out future 5G, most recently demonstrated by the successful completion of the 3.6Ghz band auction, which has the potential to support 5G services. This places Ireland at the forefront of Europe in terms of being able to harness the opportunities that 5G technology can present in the future.

The Declaration builds on the European Commission’s 5G Action Plan published in September 2016, which is a strategic initiative concerning all stakeholders, private and public, small and large, in all Member States, to meet the challenge of making 5G a reality for all citizens and businesses by the end of this decade.