Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2018
765. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the reallocation of the 700 MHz spectrum; the amount spent on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30492/18]
View answerA Decision was adopted at EU level in order to co-ordinate the release of the 694-790MHz (700MHz) spectrum band in all Member States by 30 June 2020.
In Ireland, the 700MHz band is currently used by digital terrestrial television services (DTT) and my Department and ComReg have been working to ensure the necessary measures are taken to facilitate a clearance of the spectrum to meet the timeline of June 2020. This work is being carried out with the co-operation of RTÉ (as owner and operator of the two DTT public service multiplexes) and its subsidiary, 2rn, as the owner and operator of the national broadcasting transmission network.
A project plan and related expenditure estimates have been finalised by 2rn and reviewed by independent consultants on behalf of the Department and ComReg. Ireland will compensate RTÉ for the changes to the DTT network which relate to the re-engineering of their DTT network to facilitate its migration out of the 700MHz band.
A compensation agreement between my Department, RTÉ and 2rn was signed in February 2017. As part of this agreement, a Cost Recovery Mechanism (CRM) has been developed to ensure that only appropriate expenditure is compensated and that this is carried out in a fully transparent manner.
2rn received two separate payments in 2017, Phase 1 payment of €5.16m in February and €2.8m in December under Phase 2. A further payment will be made under Phase 3 in 2020 once the migration is complete.
Further information and documentation is available on my Department's website at this link.
