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Broadband Services Speeds

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (532, 536)

Robert Troy

Question:

532. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 23 May 2013 regarding the 30Mbps speed to be available to the last 30% of population, if he will clarify, in line with the objective of clarity on these matters noted in the programme for Government, that the broadband speed referred to is not a peak, theoretical, contracted or up to speed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27679/13]

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Robert Troy

Question:

536. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources regarding the mapping process for the national broadband plan, now underway, the technologies currently available here that he considers capable of delivering broadband to a minimum of 30Mb/s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27683/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Question Nos. 532 and 536 together.

The National Broadband Plan commits to speeds of 30Mbps – 70Mbps with target upload speeds in the region of 25% - 30% of these speeds. This will require investment by the State in areas where there is no commercial market.

In order to progress the State-led investment, a full procurement process must be designed. In devising any State intervention my Department will be adopting a technology neutral approach, as required under EU law. My Department has recently appointed Prisa Consulting to assist in all aspects of the design, mapping, State Aids and procurement process, including ensuring an enduring and technically robust solution. This process will include a detailed specification of our requirements to deliver on the commitments in the National Broadband Plan. It is of key importance that the solution is future proofed, scalable and capable of taking advantage of technological advances so as to meet the ever-increasing bandwidth requirements of citizens and businesses.

My Department will shortly embark on a formal mapping exercise to identify those areas where State intervention will be required to enable the delivery of high speed broadband services over the coming years in line with the commitments set out in the Government’s National Broadband Plan. This exercise will inform an EU State Aids application in respect of the State-led intervention and is a necessary prerequisite for State Aids approval. Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations including stakeholder engagement will be ongoing throughout 2013 with a view to the launch of a procurement process in 2014.

Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, we are committed to increasing the availability of next generation speeds significantly throughout the country. This will ensure that citizens or businesses, wherever they are located, have a broadband connection which meets their needs to interact effectively with society and business in the digital environment.

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