Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
587. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the poor phone coverage (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57999/12]
View answer598. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will contact the mobile phone service providers and notify them of the problems with the service in the Castlecove, Caherdaniel, Derrynane, Blackvalley, Blackwater and general areas in south Kerry; his plans to improve the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1189/13]
View answer602. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the level of mobile phone coverage being provided in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1304/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 587, 598 and 602 together.
All citizens are entitled to reasonable access to basic telephone services at fixed locations in accordance with provisions contained in the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and User’s Rights) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 337/2011). Any failure by the universal service provider, currently eircom, to meet reasonable requests for fixed line phone services should be notified to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent market regulator.
The provision of universal access to phone services is limited to the provision of such services at fixed locations using fixed line or equivalent technologies.
The provision of mobile phone networks and services is undertaken by telecommunications service providers operating in a fully liberalised market under licences provided by ComReg.
I am advised by ComReg that one of the requirements of these licences is that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) must provide a minimum level of national population coverage. I understand that operators tend to exceed their minimum coverage requirements for commercial reasons. Subject to any other statutory consent requirements including planning consents requirements, the design of each mobile network is a matter entirely for each network operator.
Given that mobile telephone services are a radio based technology, services can be affected by several factors including; topography (the surroundings, trees, terrain, buildings etc.) and the capacity of the network (the amount of subscribers on the same base station at a given time) and more generally the quality of access which customers have to mobile telephone antennas. Industry has signalled that the recently concluded multi-band spectrum auction, which released additional radio spectrum previously unavailable for mobile operators, should result in enhanced services being rolled out.
I am also advised by ComReg that following previous parliamentary questions regarding the quality of mobile phone services in Kerry it contacted the licensed operators. ComReg advises me that in responses one MNO outlined difficulties in locating new infrastructure in County Kerry including difficulties in securing consent to construct masts. It was indicated to ComReg that this difficulty arises in part from a provision in Kerry County Council’s Development Plan, which states that; “It is the policy of the Planning Authority that telecommunication masts shall not be located within 1 kilometre of residential properties, schools, hospitals or any structures where there is human occupancy for residential or daily work purposes”, which limits service providers ability to locate masts and antennas adjacent to market demand.
