Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
142. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his current or future engagements with telecommunications and broadband providers regarding interim solutions for areas at the later end of the National Broadband Plan roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40994/21]
View answer143. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will establish a clearing house for telecommunications and broadband companies to offer interim solutions for premises at the later end of the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan ensuring they have all the information they need to make informed decisions in relation to connectivity and potential future infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40995/21]
View answer144. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will establish a clearing house for premises at the later end of the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan to assist premises in exploring their broadband and connectivity options ensuring they have all the information they need to make informed decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40996/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 143 and 144 together.
The NBP Contract allows National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to explore alternative technologies if they are deemed necessary to assist delivery of the contract requirements. 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 given its responsibility to deliver the State led intervention under the contract with the State.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 15 July, 335 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible locations and the Department of Education for schools. These will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main deployment under the NBP. The planned BCP locations are in places of community importance, including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places.
In relation to mobile coverage, ComReg has developed a national outdoor coverage map (available at 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 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. ComReg is currently managing the next spectrum award process for wireless broadband services. This spectrum will enable mobile operators to further enhance their services throughout the country.
The work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has successfully targeted actions that support the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas. Key achievements of the Taskforce to date have included:
Over 1,000 km of ducting installed nationwide, enabling operators to expand their networks along the road network route.
- The revision of the Guidelines for Managing Openings in Public Roads (the ‘Purple Book’)
- Removal of development contributions and the introduction of planning exemptions for new telecoms technology, enabling infrastructure rollout where previously not considered viable.
- A single centralised process and online resource for road opening licences to facilitate deployment.
- The launch of a series of pilot projects nationwide to tackle blackspots.
The future work programme of the Taskforce, which is currently being finalised, will seek to build on the work to date, against the backdrop of the rollout of the NBP, together with the significant recent and ongoing investment by commercial operators and the spectrum award process that is being managed by ComReg at this time.
