I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.
The Government, through the National Broadband Plan, which I published on 30th August last year, has recognised that the key imperative now is to ensure high speed broadband availability to all. Specifically, the Plan 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.
Ireland is now therefore moving to a new phase of public and private sector investment in broadband in Ireland which will see significantly improved speeds delivered across the country. In devising any State intervention to deliver high speed services to areas of the country where such services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market, my department will be adopting a technology neutral approach, as required under EU law. This means specifying our requirements rather than specifying a particular technology.
Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations including stakeholder engagement will be on-going throughout 2013 with a view to the launch of a procurement process in 2014. Cognisance will be taken of other countries’ experiences, including that of the UK, in addressing the challenge of rolling out next generation broadband, as and where appropriate, having regard to the particular circumstances and challenges faced by Ireland.
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 and that all parts of Ireland will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.
