The National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6m of the 2.3m addresses in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next number of years.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. My Department is currently finalising a national map which will identify those areas that require a State intervention. As part of this process, a stakeholder consultation was launched in June. Non-commercially sensitive versions of the 32 responses received were published by my Department earlier today. In addition, officials in the Department have met extensively with operators and stakeholder groups in the last number of months.
I expect to publish the map shortly. Those accessing this map will be able to identify their own house or premises and see whether it is in the proposed intervention footprint. Where a house or premises is not in the proposed intervention area it means it either currently, or will in the near future, have access to commercial high speed broadband services. The map will be the subject of public consultation over a number of months, allowing operators and citizens to comment, clarify and seek updates. In this respect, the map will be subject to change if new information comes to light or if commercial investments are announced in the future.
My Department's website will contain user-friendly information that will help deal with queries members of the public might have regarding the proposed State intervention. I also intend to set up a help desk where people can contact my Department directly with issues or questions relating to the Plan.
Engagement with stakeholder groups will continue throughout 2014 and 2015 as part of the ongoing strategy development process. A further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy will be launched in mid-2015, before moving to the procurement phase.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland. Our goal is to ensure that quality broadband services are available to all citizens regardless of where they are located.
