Brendan Daly
Question:105 Mr. Daly asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, which are being prepared to modernise telecommunications infrastructure in view of developments in new technology. [18391/97]
Vol. 482 No. 5
105 Mr. Daly asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, which are being prepared to modernise telecommunications infrastructure in view of developments in new technology. [18391/97]
The development of modern telecommunications infrastructure will be driven primarily by the promotion of effective competition in the telecommunications sector. The liberalisation of access to the telecommunications market is being implemented on a gradual basis which will culminate in open competition from 1 January 2000 subject only to proportional and nondiscriminatory regulatory provisions. The Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation was established on an independent basis from 30 June this year with responsibility for overseeing the regulation of the sector.
More specifically in relation to infrastructure a key step was taken on 1 July this year, in accordance with the timetable agreed between Ireland and the European Commission for liberalisation of the sector, when the provision and use of telecommunications infrastructure other than the public telecommunications network was liberalised.