Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005
354 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for upgrading telecommunications infrastructure for any future technological breakthroughs in view of the difficulties with the rolling out of broadband across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21020/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlthough the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the fully liberalised private sector, the delivery of broadband is dependent on access by the sector to suitable infrastructure. Unfortunately, investment by the sector in broadband infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the demand for broadband services.
Since March 2002, the Government has been addressing the infrastructure deficit with the investment of upwards of €200 million of European Regional Development Fund, ERDF, and State funding under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 in a series of initiatives that will make possible the delivery of broadband in all parts of the country. The keystone of the regional broadband programme is the metropolitan area networks, MANs, initiative, under which 120 towns and cities are being provided with high-capacity optic fibre trunk networks.
Broadband can be delivered by a number of different technologies, including digital subscriber lines, DSL, fibre, cable, fixed wireless and satellite. While DSL is currently the most popular broadband technology, with 84% of the market, each of these technologies has a part to play in the rollout of services. The MANs are capable of delivering bandwidths that are many hundreds of times greater than the old telephone networks, and will be capable of handling all foreseeable broadband demands for many years into the future.
The MANs are being managed for the State on an open-access basis, and allow the sector to offer the full range of broadband services at realistic prices. Full details of the MANs programme and my Department's other broadband initiatives, including the county and group broadband scheme and the broadband for schools project, can be found on my Department's website, www.dcmnr.gov.ie. There are now more than 160,000 broadband users in Ireland, an increase of more than 400% since early last year, and I am confident the target of 500,000 that I have set the industry can be achieved by 2007.
