Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the European Commission’s definition of ‘high speed broadband’ increasing from 30 Mbps would lead directly to a larger intervention area for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52695/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Increasing the State Aid Guidelines definition of high speed broadband from 30 Mbps would not impact on the National Broadband Plan intervention, as the State Aid decision approving Ireland's NBP was underpinned by the mapping consultation that was finalised in advance of the NBP contract being signed in November 2019.

I do not believe it would be necessary for Ireland to undertake a further mapping exercise, as a combination of commercial investment and the State led intervention will ensure access to gigabit broadband in every part of the country and no premises will be left behind, no matter how remote. The network that is being deployed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is future proofed to deliver speeds of up to 10Gbps. The revised EU guidelines will aid Member States in meeting the EU's ambition of enabling Gigabit networks to all premises by 2030.

A number of commercial operators have announced investment plans in fixed high-speed broadband infrastructure in the areas that are not a part of the NBP intervention. Eir has announced that it is extending its fibre deployment to 1.9 million premises, SIRO is to pass more than 0.75 million premises with gigabit services and Virgin Media intends to provide gigabit broadband upgrades for 1 million premises over the next 3 years.  Many other network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks. These investments, together with the ongoing significant investments in mobile networks, including 5G, will ensure that Ireland has the necessary connectivity to support its wider digital ambitions.

As commercial operators continue to build new gigabit infrastructure and upgrade their existing networks, it is expected is that they will design these networks to ensure that no premises is stranded and therefore not able to connect to the network.  Any future Universal Service Obligation will not compensate inefficient network designs which are to the detriment of end users and could potentially create a digital divide.