Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2015
460. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which all aspects of the telecommunications sector here are comparable in standard, quality and accessibility to similar services available in adjoining or other European Union member states; the extent to which it is expected to augment the services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16755/15]
View answerIreland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999. It has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms.
A report on the “State of Broadband” published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in September 2014 on broadband penetration, ranks Ireland 36th of 190 countries for fixed line broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants, 22nd of 138 countries for mobile broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants and 28th of 191 countries with over 78% of the population accessing the internet using a broadband connection.
Comparisons of available broadband speeds by the OECD and other statistical reporting bodies concentrate on the headline speeds or averages of broadband speeds marketed by the largest operators in each country. These reports do not measure public access to those higher broadband speeds within countries. Such comparisons must be interpreted with caution, as the OECD itself advises.
The most recent OECD report on marketed broadband speeds, up to September 2012, ranks Ireland 11th highest, equal with countries such as Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for the highest marketed download speed available, which was 100Mbps at that time. These tables do not, however, quantify the proportion of households, located in less densely populated areas, who cannot access the higher speeds.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial sector will have delivered high speed broadband to 1.6 m of Ireland's 2.3 m premises by the end of 2016 with minimum speeds of 30mbps. The Government's intervention will be targetted at the remaining 30% of premises. It is is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business. This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
In the mobile telephony market, the 4G networks, which network operators are currently completing, provide a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities over previous 3G and 2G technologies. These 4G networks use the same technology as the most modern mobile networks providing public access internationally. At least one operator now states that it is now providing 4G services to 90% of the population in Ireland.
