Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1992

Vol. 421 No. 9

Written Answers. - MMDS Television Services.

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

29 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline, in respect of the licence to supply MMDS television services to counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Offaly, Tipperary and Clare, (1) the groups who received licences, (2) the number of miles from a transmitter to be served and (3) whether a service in County Galway will be provided by groups outside the county.

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

As mentioned previously in the House, the boundaries of MMDS franchises will not necessarily follow county boundaries precisely. With this proviso, the information sought by the Deputy is as follows:

Cablelink Ltd. is the MMDS licensee for Galway and Mayo, MDS Television, Limerick, which trades as Horizon TV Distribution Ltd. is the licensee for Roscommon, Offaly and Clare and MMDS Television Ltd. Kilkenny is the licensee for Tipperary.

With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, MMDS frequencies were planned on a cellular basis with cells ranging from 10 miles to 30 miles in radius. In practice, however, the service area of a transmitter is dependent on a number of factors including site height, power, antenna configuration, and the nature of the surrounding terrain. Coverage in one direction from the transmitter may be better than in another.

The major part of County Galway will be served by Cablelink Ltd. Parts of the county including Ballinasloe and eastwards will be served by Horizon TV Distribution Ltd.