Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which broadband provision throughout the country is progressing as intended; if efforts continue to bridge communication gaps that have become obvious; if he can see a means whereby the provision of broadband throughout all the regions can be maximised in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19858/23]
View answerThe Government of Ireland’s National Digital Strategy (NDS), Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, is helping to drive the digital transition across the economy and society. Its ambition is to make connectivity available to everyone, including through the National Broadband Plan, Remote Working Hubs and Broadband Connection Points, with a target of having:
- all Irish households and businesses covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;
- all populated areas covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
- digital connectivity delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023.
The latest Quarterly Key Data Report (QKDR) published by ComReg on 8 March 2023 shows that fixed broadband subscriptions increased to 1.61 million, a 2.2% increase year on year. Of these 57.1% have download speeds greater than 100Mbps.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) state led intervention is being delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract, signed in November 2019 which came into effect in January 2020. The contract provides for the roll out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network within the intervention area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
I am advised by NBI that, as of 14 April 2023:
• 135,594 premises passed across all counties;
• 37,303 premises connected;
• 147,629 premises can order or pre-order a service across 26 counties;
• 149,480 premises undergoing main build works;
• 375,213 Premises have had designs completed.
NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build by 2026 and that it will make up for delays caused by Covid 19 over the course of 2020 and 2021.
Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) 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 14 April 2023, 895 SCP sites (283 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 612 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/.
Eir has committed to rolling out fibre to some 1.9 million premises. SIRO has passed more than 470,000 premises with gigabit services and has recently announced plans to extend its network to an additional 300,000 premises. Virgin Media plans to bring gigabit broadband upgrades to 1 million premises. The network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks
