The objective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is to provide access to affordable, scalable broadband services to rural areas, many of which do not currently have any broadband service. The NBS is being rolled out on an electoral division basis and will address electoral divisions (EDs) that are without adequate broadband services.
The terms used to determine the areas that will receive broadband services under the NBS were based on levels of the existing combined broadband coverage in relevant EDs.
The NBS, which was approved by the European Commission, seeks to strike a balance between reaching as many un-served premises in Ireland as possible while minimising the impact of the scheme on businesses already providing broadband services in rural areas.
After compiling existing broadband coverage maps in the State, the Department was faced with a decision to determine which EDs should be addressed by the NBS, based on the levels of existing coverage in relevant EDs.
Where an ED was completely un-served by any existing service provider it was included in the NBS. EDs that, at the time of the mapping exercise in 2008, were completely served were excluded from the NBS.
Where an ED was not substantially covered by existing service providers, it was included in the Scheme. It is accepted that some of these areas already had a certain level of service. However, in such cases the entire ED was deemed not substantially covered and consequently was included in the NBS in order to ensure that all residences and businesses in the ED could benefit from broadband services.
It is accepted that even after the full roll-out of the NBS there will still be a small percentage of premises that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.). The European Economic Recovery Programme contains a specific provision for broadband services to rural areas and my Department is currently considering options for the design and implementation of such a scheme. It is hoped to commence this scheme in 2010 and have it completed by 2012. Discussions have already commenced with the European Commission on the critical first step of applying for and securing State Aid clearance.