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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (547, 548)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

547. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of fibre to the home broadband connection to every domestic property here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5938/13]

View answer

Michael Colreavy

Question:

548. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of fibre to the kerb broadband connection to every domestic property here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5939/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together.

The provision of fixed electronic communications networks and services in Ireland is a fully liberalised market, subject only to a requirement to notify the Commission for Communications Regulations in accordance with the requirements set out in the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations 2011 (SI No. 335 of 2011). The cost of providing fibre to the home or a fibre to the kerb alternative for every domestic property in the State would vary depending on the network capability which any particular provider may already have developed, the operating costs and the costs of procuring the network hardware, all of which could vary between any one operator and another operating within a fully liberalised market. The costs arising are commercial matters for any undertaking planning such an investment. I have no statutory functions in regulating the prices at which network developers can access fibre or other network elements from manufacturers, nor the development costs of delivering fibre to the home or fibre to the kerb for domestic premises.

A number of recent publications by both Forfás and the Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) highlight the potential costs involved in building out a fibre network throughout Ireland. These reports are in the public domain and can be accessed through the following links:

http://www.tif.ie/Sectors/TIF/TIF.nsf/vPages/Broadband~Publications~building-a-next-generation-access-network-for-ireland-16-04-2010/$file/TIF%20Report%20'Building%20a%20Next%20Generation%20Access%20Network%20for%20Ireland'%20Final.pdf

http://www.forfas.ie/media/Ngns%20final%20for%20web%20(amended%20aurora%20text).pdf

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