Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
229. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will review and respond to matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding the provision of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18634/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools ensuring no premises is left behind. The NBP contract was awarded following a detailed and comprehensive procurement process. In line with State Aid Guidelines, the procurement process was technology neutral meaning that the process did not specify a preferred technology. However, all bidders in the process proposed fibre as the best solution. National and international expertise points to a fibre based solution as being the most economical way to address all premises with a future proofed solution over the 25 year term of the NBP Contract.
In terms of whether the low earth orbit satellite technology employed by Starlink could be used in the more remote or latterly scheduled regions of the National Broadband Plan intervention area, the NBP Contract allows National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to explore alternative technologies, including satellite technology, if they are deemed necessary to assist delivery of the contract requirements. However, in doing so NBI must ensure that any alternative technologies utilised do not negatively impact on having a reliable and robust network available for all premises within the Intervention Area and that minimum contracted speeds are achieved. These considerations are a matter for NBI in the first instance.
