Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2022
51. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of his engagement with a company (details supplied) to roll-out a shared rural network to ensure that mobile coverage blackspots in Ireland are eliminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25058/22]
View answer52. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of his engagement with mobile network operators in Ireland to roll-out a shared rural network in Ireland to ensure that mobile coverage blackspots in Ireland are eliminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25074/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.
Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by the independent regulator, ComReg, to mobile operators. ComReg advises that the current minimum coverage obligations in those licences are being considerably exceeded by all operators. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years was in the order of €3.3 billion for both fixed and mobile services. This has significantly enhanced the availability of services, both voice and data, throughout Ireland, including in rural areas.
ComReg is currently in the process of running another Multi-band Spectrum Award to assign rights of use in four spectrum bands. The award comprises 470 MHz of spectrum and represents a 46% increase in the harmonised spectrum assigned for the provision of wireless broadband services in Ireland. This will significantly enable the market to provide improved services to meet increasing consumer demand for mobile data and new services. The proposals include significant coverage obligations for prospective winning bidders.
To assist consumers to choose the network provider that best meets their needs, ComReg has developed a national outdoor coverage map (available at this link). This map provides consumers with very clear information on where operators have good 2G, 3G and 4G coverage.
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce ('the Taskforce') has been in operation since 2016 and has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide. It has completed over 70 targeted actions to alleviate connectivity barriers and continues to tackle issues impeding the rollout of mobile and fixed connectivity. The Taskforce is co-managed by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD).
Relevant links associated with the work of the Taskforce can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/db7f83-mobile-phone-and-broadband-taskforce/.
