The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market and stimulate demand to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg's quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. It is also encouraging that, at the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg's report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps.
There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010.
Businesses located within the NBS area and currently without any broadband service will benefit by being able to send and receive emails and files, surf the web, and update their own websites. Under the NBS, 3 is committed to a comprehensive demand side programme which includes amongst other things, marketing, outdoor advertising, radio and press advertising, engagement with communities and stakeholders as well as other promotional activities. Finally, my colleague the Minister for Finance, who is responsible for eGovernment, is committed to demand stimulation through the use of broadband for internal State business and for the provision of electronic services to citizens.