Written answers
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1318. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proportion of the country and the percentage of the population that now have 5G mobile coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40805/25]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In June the European Commission published their latest Digital Decade report which indicates that 89.9% of populated areas in Ireland are now served by 5G. This assessment was carried out at the end of 2024 and is anticipated that further improvements in 5G roll out have taken place across all operators in the last 6 months. In early July eir announced that they have now reached 99% population coverage for 5G.
Many of the 5G coverage improvements have been made possible by the release of additional spectrum to the mobile network operators. The Multiband Spectrum Award 2022 released significant amounts of new spectrum to the market for the provision of 5G services. That process concluded in January 2023 with the award of new spectrum licenses to the mobile network operators. In designing this spectrum award process the independent regulator, ComReg, commissioned independent economic analyses about the best approach to placing coverage obligations on the operators, and consulted widely with industry stakeholders, including the operators, and with my Department.
It was ultimately decided that a key focus for this spectrum award would be on delivering coverage to the population rather than simply putting a focus on geographical or area coverage. The award included legal commitments from the operators to provide: a 3 Mbit/s service to 99% of the population and 92% of the geographic area of Ireland; a 30 Mbit/s service to 95% of the population, 90% of motorways, and 80% of primary roads; and a 30 Mbit/s service to 345 specified locations, consisting of 40 business and technology parks, 65 hospitals, 24 higher education campuses, 14 air and seaports, 160 train and bus stations, and 42 top visitor attraction information points.
The roll out of networks using this new spectrum continues and I would expect to see continued improvements in 5G service as the operators work to meet their coverage and capacity obligations.
Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1319. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to prepare Ireland for the development and deployment of 6G technology; the part Ireland is playing in the European Union’s preparations for 6G technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40806/25]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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6G, or the sixth-generation of mobile communications technology, will be the next evolution of radio and mobile networking systems, building upon the foundation laid by 5G. The introduction into service of 6G services is not anticipated until 2030 at the earliest.
In the interim, mobile network operators are continuing to roll out 5G-based networks which are offering consumers faster speeds and new services. The introduction of 5G Stand Alone networks, which are a stepping stone towards 6G networks, is also progressing. Government has supported this through the OGCIO’s development of a National Low Latency Platform built around the latest 5G capabilities.
The specifics of what 6G technology will bring to consumers are still being researched and developed, both in Ireland and globally. The policy implications flowing from these technological advances are also being considered.
My Department participates in the work of the European Union’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), a high-level advisory group that assists the European Commission in the development of radio spectrum policy. The RSPG provides advice to the European Commission in the form of opinions and reports.
Under its work programme for 2024-2025, the RSPG established a work stream to develop a 6G Strategic Vision. In February 2025 the RSPG published an opinion on its Strategic Vision for 6G. This followed on from a 2023 Opinion on 6G. In preparing the Opinion on the Strategic Vision, the RSPG took into account input from all active stakeholders (research institutes, manufacturers, mobile network operators, spectrum users' associations, etc.).
The RSPG noted that 6G is more than just a new generation for higher data speeds - it is expected to bring possibilities for new innovations and services compared to 4G and 5G. The RSPG identified the limited new spectrum resources that could be made available to support the launch of 6G, including reuse of current harmonised Mobile phone and Broadband spectrum. Europe is also actively engaged in funding 6G research such as the European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). Many Irish-based research performing organisations, both academics, SMEs and multinationals, are participating in SNS JU projects to build capacity in this area.
It is expected that 6G will provide additional capacity, support high data rate services, mobility and wide area coverage. The six usage scenarios for 6G, along with the representative capabilities associated with them, identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are:
- Immersive Communication (Peak data rate, user experienced data rate, area traffic capacity, spectrum efficiency, latency, mobility)
- Hyper Reliable and Low-Latency Communication (Latency, reliability)
- Massive Communication (Connection density, area traffic capacity, energy efficiency)
- AI and Communication (Applicable AI-related capabilities, security and resilience)
- Integrated Sensing and Communication (Positioning accuracy, sensing-related capabilities)
- Ubiquitous Connectivity (Coverage)
Subsequent to the work on the opinion, the RSPG prepared an addendum to its work programme in May 2025 with the aim of preparing a 6G Roadmap. The work done by the RSPG is similar in approach to that taken for 5G a decade earlier, which was considered a successful approach by the European Commission. My Department will continue to support the work of the RSPG to bring forward this 6G Roadmap.
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