Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 January 2013
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current rating of quality speed and standard of broadband here when compared with other EU jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5026/13]
View answerThe most recently published statistical report published by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), for the period July-September 2012, reports that 75% of broadband customers in Ireland have contracted for marketed broadband services in a range between 2-10 Mbps and a further 21% have contracted at speeds exceeding 10 Mbps. EU Commission statistics, published on its digital scoreboard website, which compare marketed broadband speeds across the EU 27 ranks Ireland at 84% access in a range between 2-10 Mbps compared to the EU average of 87% in this range. In the case of speeds at or exceeding 10 Mbps, the EU Commission reports 29% availability over fixed lines in Ireland compared to an EU average of 48%.
It can be noted however that the EU Commission reports are based on 2011 data. The more recent ComReg report notes an overall trend of customers contracting at higher speeds. The proportion of customers contracting at or below 2 Mbps fell from 7% - to 5% of all subscriptions between Q3 2011 and Q3 2012. I welcome this trend towards higher speeds which is consistent with the commitment set in the National Broadband Plan, which I published on the 30th August last year, to ensure that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020.
