Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
513. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a recent settlement and agreement to consult on the matter of the appropriate level of costs for FTTH connections will impact on the subsidy for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43543/19]
View answerFollowing the settlement reached between the independent regulator ComReg and Sky Ireland Limited (“Sky”) in respect of proceedings related to aspects of ComReg Decision D10/18, I understand that ComReg has confirmed that it plans to publish (Q1 2020) a consultation that will, inter-alia, address the design and costs associated with the provision of fibre access network, and prices for a number of existing access products. According to ComReg, the consultation will consider the appropriate level of costs of FTTH connections and migrations. The requirements relating to the cost to connect premises in the NBP intervention area are governed by the NBP contract. The standard wholesale connection charge that will apply in the case of a connection for a house or business to the NBP network will be a one-off charge of €100 (ex VAT). As is the norm with connection charges for access to wholesale networks such as the NBP network, National Broadband Ireland will charge the retail service provider (such as eir, Vodafone, Sky, Imagine etc) this fee and it will be a matter for the retailer as to whether or not it passes this one-off cost to the consumer.
