Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Digital Connectivity Strategy, aligned with EU Digital Decade targets, aims for all populated areas to be covered by 5G no later than 2030. Irish telecoms operators provide services in a fully liberalised market independently regulated by ComReg, who stipulates coverage obligations in licences granted to operators. Operators advise that they are all exceeding current minimum coverage obligations.

ComReg completed a Multi-Band Spectrum Award in January 2023, assigning rights of use in four spectrum bands, enabling the market to meet increasing consumer demand for mobile data and new services. This award represents a 46% increase in the harmonised spectrum assigned for wireless broadband services in Ireland.

Awarded licences' details are on comreg.ie, and include obligations to provide outdoor mobile services of:

• 3Mbit/s to 99% of the population within 3 years and 92% of the geographic area of Ireland within 7 years;
• 30Mbit/s to 95% of the population, 90% of motorways, and 80% of primary roads within 7 years; and
• 30Mbit/s service to 345 specific locations within 7 years.

ComReg continually updates its online map providing information on operators' coverage, including 5G, at: coveragemap.comreg.ie/map. Latest market data from Comreg indicates there were some 1.1m 5G mobile subscriptions as of Q1 2023.

My Department has worked with Member States to develop the EU Connectivity Toolbox, a collection of best practices to lower operational costs and foster better connectivity across the EU, including streamlining administrative and permitting granting procedures, and improving access to State assets. These are being implemented via the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce's work programme (2022-2025).