Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 April 2014
390. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects towns in County Meath to receive access to the fibre to the business network which was started in Claremorris, County Mayo, this week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17643/14]
View answerI attended the launch of e|net’s Fibre To The Business project, “e|net fibredirect” in Claremorris last week, referred to by the Deputy. This innovative product will use the Claremorris Metropolitan Area Network to make industry-strength broadband available to the businesses of Claremorris. Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are State owned, underground telecommunications networks that are located in 94 regional cities and towns. MANs are available to licenced telecoms providers to enable them offer high-speed broadband to their retail customers without having to build their own networks. The MANs are managed, maintained and operated on behalf of the State by Limerick-based company, e|net, on behalf of the Department. e|net operates the MANs on an “open access” basis and provides services to licenced telecoms operators. At present, over 50 licensed telecoms operators, including all major operators, are using the MANs. This development maximises the role of the State-owned MAN in the delivery of future proofed broadband solutions to SMEs. It represents a significant financial investment by e|net. It also represents a major commitment of time and effort by the Claremorris Chamber of Commerce, Mayo County Council and telecoms operator Airspeed Telecom, who have collaborated to bring this project to fruition.
e|net is a commercial company and, while I would welcome any further investment by enet in similar projects in other MAN towns, such decisions are entirely a matter for the company.
