Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
103. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date in overcoming barriers to the deployment of 100% population 5G coverage by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3828/24]
View answerAs telecoms technologies advance and evolve at pace, there is a need for guidelines and regulations to be regularly updated to reflect this. This is of particular importance in relation to innovative technologies like 5G, which requires infrastructure that is vastly different to what preceding technologies required and consequent different legislative treatment in some cases.
The Digital Connectivity Strategy, aligned with EU Digital Decade targets, aims for all populated areas to be covered by 5G no later than 2030. Irish telecoms operators provide services in a fully liberalised market independently regulated by ComReg, who stipulates coverage obligations in licences granted to operators. Operators advise that they are all exceeding current minimum coverage obligations.
To assist consumers to choose the network provider that best meets their needs, ComReg continually updates and enhances its online national outdoor mobile coverage map (available at: Service Coverage - Commission for Communications Regulation (comreg.ie), which provides clear information on where operators have 5G coverage. ComReg will continue to improve the information available to consumers which can assist when considering moving to or visiting a particular area and in highlighting blackspots that need to be addressed.
My Department has worked with Member States to develop the EU Connectivity Toolbox, a collection of best practices to lower operational costs and foster better connectivity across the EU, including streamlining administrative and permitting granting procedures, and improving access to State assets. These are being implemented via the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce's work programme (2022-2025).
In relation to concerns around mobile phone coverage, the roll-out of infrastructure for mobile telecommunications services in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 11 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002.
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been in operation since 2016 and has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide. The Mobile Phone & Broadband Taskforce continues to implement actions specifically designed to remove barriers to telecoms infrastructure rollout.
