The provision of communications infrastructure and services is a matter for the private sector companies that operate in the fully liberalised telecommunications market.
However, recognising that there are areas of the country that are not as economically attractive for firms to invest in infrastructure and services due to lower population densities and lower concentrations of industries, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives to facilitate the roll-out of advanced communications infrastructure which seek to address gaps in communications infrastructure in regional Ireland and lower the cost differentials between the regions.
In 1999, under the National Development Plan 1994-1999 and INTERREG II, €26.5 million was made available to support the rollout of broadband to the regions. Some 13 projects which rolled-out broadband nationwide to a value – both public and private funding – of €70 million were supported and are now completed. These projects entailed the rollout of broadband services in the border, midlands and west region and the south and east region.
Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the indicative figure allocated to telecommunications initiatives was approximately €200 million. Funding under this communications and e-commerce measure of the NDP will be utilised to leverage and accelerate investment in competitive advanced information and communications infrastructure.
A first call for proposals was run in 2000 and on foot of submissions received, nine contracts were signed at the beginning of last year which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure and increased availability of broadband services for business and residential users. The projects involved are scheduled to be completed by the end of next year and will entail an overall investment of €160 million in broadband leveraged from grant assistance of approximately €55 million.