Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2013
348. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the standard, quality and speed of both broadband services and mobile phone services throughout County Kildare compares with the best available worldwide; his plans to improve same over the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/13]
View answerThe provision of mobile phone networks and services is undertaken by telecommunications service providers operating in a fully liberalised market. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for issuing licences to mobile phone operators and for monitoring compliance with the conditions attached to the licences. ComReg concluded a spectrum allocation process in late 2012, which will enable the successful applicants to operate 4G mobile services across the country. 4G is the fourth generation and most modern of mobile phone technologies currently available. It is a matter for the individual mobile telephone operators to decide those parts of the country they will prioritise and those areas they will ultimately serve in accordance with the license conditions.
The provision of broadband services is also undertaken within a fully liberalised market. National and international statistics on broadband availability measure the highest broadband speeds marketed by retail services at the national level. These comparisons do not measure whether the speeds quoted are available in all areas of any country. The high speeds offered in parts of County Kildare by at least one cable operator, in the areas it serves and has upgraded, compare favourably with high broadband speeds marketed internationally. Unfortunately there are no statistics available which would allow a national or international comparison of the different speeds available throughout any one county.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, 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, 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.
Specifically, it commits to 70Mbps to 100Mbps available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by 2015; at least 40Mbps, and in many cases faster speeds, to at least a further 20% and potentially as much as 35% of the population, and a minimum of 30Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country.
During the preparation of Ireland’s National Broadband Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70Mbps to 100Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015.
The commercial sector is already making these investments in high speed services, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. The Government is also committed in the Plan to investing in areas where high speed services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market.
My Department is making preparations to commence a formal national mapping exercise to identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years. This will inform the level of Government interaction that may be required and the areas that need to be targeted for a State-led investment. It will also form a critical input to an EU State Aid application in respect of any State-led intervention.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, we are committed to increasing the availability of next generation speeds significantly, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and business can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.
I would reiterate that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to above, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including County Kildare, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.
