Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2009
192 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is through the mobile network that a company (details supplied) will provide the broadband signals; his views on whether this network has the capacity to supply a service to every customer here who needs it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5385/09]
View answerFollowing the conclusion of a technology neutral procurement process, which was open to all broadband service providers from across all platforms, my Department has entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS).
3 will extend its network to provide mobile broadband services into the NBS area. The mobile broadband service will be delivered using Internet High Speed Packet Access (I-HSPA) technology and will cover up to 95% of the NBS coverage areas. It is an industry leading technology which allows operators to offer high quality broadband services. In recognition of the fact that some areas will be very difficult and costly to reach using standard infrastructure, 3 will make available a satellite product which is expected to cover around 5% of the NBS coverage areas.
My Department has assessed the technical solution and the design proposed by 3 with regard to the technology that will be used, the number of base stations that will be deployed and the traffic that the network is expected to carry. I am satisfied that this network has been designed from the ground up to provide a quality service to meet the broadband needs of the NBS coverage areas.
The quality of the broadband service will be monitored for the duration of the NBS contract. Upgrades of the network and its capacity are automatically triggered at contractually agreed levels of traffic to ensure that the quality of the broadband service is maintained.
193 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the exchange at Urlaur, County Mayo will be enabled to provide broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5386/09]
View answerI have no function in the matter of the enabling of exchanges owned by private companies for the provision of broadband services. It is anticipated that the facilitation of greater competition via the introduction of broadband from different technology platforms should encourage the more rapid enabling of exchanges for broadband.
