Brendan Daly
Ceist:105 Mr. Daly asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, which are being prepared to modernise telecommunications infrastructure in view of developments in new technology. [18391/97]
Written Answers - Telecommunications Infrastructure.
The development of modern telecommunications infrastructure will be driven primarily by the promotion of effective competition in the telecommunications sector. The liberalisation of access to the telecommunications market is being implemented on a gradual basis which will culminate in open competition from 1 January 2000 subject only to proportional and nondiscriminatory regulatory provisions. The Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation was established on an independent basis from 30 June this year with responsibility for overseeing the regulation of the sector.
More specifically in relation to infrastructure a key step was taken on 1 July this year, in accordance with the timetable agreed between Ireland and the European Commission for liberalisation of the sector, when the provision and use of telecommunications infrastructure other than the public telecommunications network was liberalised.
The effect of this was to allow operators other than Telecom Éireann establish their own infrastructure or to use networks owned by third parties for the provision of already liberalised telecommunications services. The only restriction is that operators are not allowed provide voice telephony services which are reserved to Telecom Éireann along with the provision of the public telecommunications network until full liberalisation takes place on 1 January 2000. The liberalisation of alternative infrastructure on 1 July 1997, was seen as an important, timely and necessary step in preparing the market for full liberalisation.
It is evident from press reports and from my Department's contacts with the industry that the liberalisation of alternative infrastructure has given a significant impetus to developments in the sector, with companies such as Esat Telecom and TCL already in the process of constructing their own state-of-the-art networks within the Dublin area. I also understand that CIE and Esat Telecom, British Telecom and the ESB, are involved in discussions concerning possible joint ventures for the provision of national telecommunications infrastructure. As for Telecom Éireann, I am aware that the company is actively responding to this emerging competition and is investing heavily in the completion of its digital network as well as in the provision of other advanced telecommunications facilities. I have also asked Telecom Éireann to present to me the options for the upgrading of the Cablelink network in order to provide an open access platform for the provision of internet and multimedia services.
Telecom Éireann, on its own initiative, has already taken significant steps to stimulate demand for new services based on high capacity infrastructure. I am referring to the information town project in Ennis and the recently announced programme agreed in collaboration with my Department and the Department of Education and Science for the provision of internet services to schools.
My Department recently began the process of recruiting consultants to advise on the design and execution of a competition, the aim of which is to part fund, with the assistance of EU financing, an infrastructure project or projects linked to the development of the information society. Further details of the competition and criteria for selection of the project or projects will be announced in the coming months. The selection of the successful project will be carried out by my Department in consultation with the Information Society Commission.
These measures taken together represent a significant step towards the development of a high quality telecommunications infrastructure in Ireland.