Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012
459. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the prospective 4G service will cover the whole of the Republic of Ireland in view of the reports that there may only be 10% nationwide 4G coverage by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52707/12]
View answerThe management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended.
ComReg’s recently held auction awarded spectrum rights in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800MHz for the period 2013 to 2030. ComReg’s Information Notice, available on the ComReg website www.comreg.ie , sets out the population coverage obligations that apply to these licences. In this regard it requires that all licence holders must attain and maintain a minimum coverage of 70% of the population within 3 years.
The Government’s recently-published National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses during the lifetime of the Government and well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible.
One of the first steps in delivering on the commitments outlined in the National Broadband Plan will be the completion of a formal national mapping exercise to identify commercial service providers’ where existing and planned broadband services will be rolled out throughout the country. Preparatory work has commenced within my Department to expedite this task.
The mapping exercise will identify the areas of the country where there is likely to be market failure in the provision of high speed broadband services and where State intervention will be required. Rollout will be targeted to commence in 2014, when it is hoped that the mapping, State Aids and procurement processes are complete and when the current contract for the National Broadband Scheme expires. I would reiterate the key commitment of 30 Mbps being available to all citizens and business as referred to above.
