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Telecommunications Infrastructure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (130, 131)

Brendan Smith

Question:

130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the outcome of recent discussions he and his Department have had with the Commission for Communications Regulation regarding the need to ensure proper access to telecommunications services nationwide both for mobile telephony and broadband services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40821/21]

View answer

Brendan Smith

Question:

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that will be implemented to ensure access to high-quality telecommunications connectivity throughout the State, which is essential to support social and economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40822/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.

The provision of telecommunication services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator.

Obligations in relation to mobile coverage are set out in licences granted by Comreg to the mobile operators and ComReg advises that the current minimum coverage obligations are being exceeded considerably by all operators.  ComReg is currently managing the next spectrum award process for wireless broadband services and commissioned studies and technical reports to inform its approach to the award process and the consideration of appropriate coverage and rollout obligations in that context.  These studies are available at www.comreg.ie

In relation to mobile coverage, ComReg has developed a national outdoor coverage map (available at https://coveragemap.comreg.ie/map), which can help consumers choose the network provider that best meets their needs for where they live, work and travel. ComReg has also published the results of tests carried out on mobile/smartphone handsets currently available in Ireland (available at https://www.comreg.ie/publication/mobile-handset-performance-data). These findings will further allow consumers to make informed decisions based on the handsets which best address their needs.

A combination of commercial investment and State led intervention will ensure access to high speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote. Of the 2.4 million premises across Ireland, 77% of premises now have access to high-speed broadband of more than 30 Mbps. The National Broadband Plan will address the remaining premises and will provide a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. A number of commercial operators have also announced further investment plans in high-speed broadband. Eir has said it will roll out fibre to a further 1.4 million premises, bringing its fibre deployment to some 1.8 million premises. SIRO is currently completing the first phase of its fibre deployment which will see 375,000 premises passed with gigabit services. Virgin Media is offering 250Mbps as a standard offering with higher speeds available to many of its customers across more than 1 million premises. Many other network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks.

Question No. 132 answered with Question No. 80.
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