Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Electronic Communications Infrastructure.

Denis Naughten

Question:

165 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the action he intends to take to ensure that the dark fibre which has recently been installed in many towns throughout the country will be lit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30551/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

My Department is currently in the process of engaging a management services entity, MSE, that will manage, market and maintain the metropolitan area networks, MANs, currently in construction in many towns around the country.

The MSE will be awarded a services concession contract for a period of ten years, in consideration of a financial return to the State. The MSE will offer open access to the MANs, for example fibre, subducts and co-location space, on a carrier neutral basis. It is envisaged that telecommunications companies will lease capacity on the MANs from the MSE and offer lit services to the public.

A notice advertising the availability of tender documentation for the MSE procurement process was published in theEU Journal on 19 June 2003. The instructions to tender for the MSE concession included a requirement for tenderers to propose a cost effective means of ensuring the provision of wholesale lit fibre services on all the MANs within 12 months of the service commencement date for each MAN.

It is anticipated that the MSE procurement process will reach a conclusion in the near future.