I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 581 together.
Across Ireland, initiatives are underway to improve the quality of telecommunications for citizens.
Mobile operators have invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage. The rate of demand for data services has however increased by 500% in the last four years and this presents a continuing challenge for mobile operators, regulators and policy makers both in Ireland and internationally.
I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. In July 2016, I established the Taskforce, together with Minister Humphreys, which has identified immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and investigating how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention (NBP). The report was published in December and is available on both our Departments' websites.
In producing this report, the Taskforce worked with Government Departments, Local Authorities, ComReg, State Agencies, the telecoms industry and other key stakeholders. The Taskforce also took into consideration practices in existence outside of Ireland, including the French National Broadband Plan and the UK Regulator's consumer coverage map.
The report contains 40 actions that will alleviate some of the telecommunications deficits across Ireland and the Implementation Programme on Mobile Phone and Broadband Access identifies 19 of these 40 actions as areas where immediate and direct action by government Departments and State Agencies can ensure accelerated benefits to consumers. Included in the actions is a commitment made by ComReg to produce a mobile phone coverage map and another action for the Regulator to carry out a mobile handset sensitivity testing programme.
The work of the Taskforce will also assist Local Authorities in preparing for the rollout of the new NBP network once contract(s) are in place.
In addition, I recently signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 allocation of spectrum in the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band. This will provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services.
In my Department's Estimates for 2017, I have secured an €8 million provision for RTÉ to allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band. ComReg in turn will make plans to allocate this spectrum, to provide for significantly enhanced mobile coverage. The 700 MHz band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances.
These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland, and particularly in rural Ireland.
In parallel, the National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland, through private investment and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment have not been fully demonstrated.
