Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the potential of universal broadband connectivity to transform livelihoods and the delivery of services; if he will indicate the discussions and the planning which he is undertaking to deliver this potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28743/23]
View answerIn December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023.
These targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The National Broadband Plan State intervention provides for the roll out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network to primarily rural areas. The intervention area covers over 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 02 June 2023 the project is progressing well, with 147,159 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. And there are over 42,000 premises now connected to NBI’s network with a significant number of new connections being made every month.
Strategic Connection Points are a key element of the project. They provide high-speed broadband to certain locations in every county in advance of the roll out of the main fibre to the home network. As of 02 June 2023, 926 sites (283 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 643 schools) have been installed. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/
Commercial investment continues to be strong over the last few years with a number of providers rolling out gigabit services. Eir is rolling out fibre to the home to some 1.9 million premises. SIRO has passed more than 490,000 premises with gigabit services and has recently announced plans to extend its network to an additional 280,000 premises. Virgin Media plans to bring gigabit broadband upgrades to over 1 million premises.
Of the 2.4 million premises across Ireland, 83% of premises now have access to high-speed broadband leaving Ireland well placed to achieve our Digital Connectivity targets by 2028.
