Matt Carthy
Question:147. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if he will urgently consider providing marts with wireless broadband under the national broadband plan. [34176/20]
View answerTuesday, 10 November 2020
Questions (147)
Written answers
Marts by their nature tend to be located in, or in the environs of towns, largely located in areas served by commercial operators, with about a third of marts in areas to be served by the National Broadband Plan fibre network. Individual mart owners should register on the facility on the NBI website where all premises owners can ensure that they are provided with deployment updates through the NBI website www.nbi.ie. In 2020, almost 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be connected across the country in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. These BCPs will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main deployment under the NBP. The BCP locations include schools (for educational access only), library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places. It is planned to connect more key strategic premises next year and my Department is exploring the possibility of including marts in this programme of advance connections.