Olwyn Enright
Ceist:81 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of MANs across the country that are currently not in use. [43282/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 November 2009
Ceisteanna (61)
Freagraí scríofa
Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme has delivered optical fibre based networks to twenty-seven towns and cities throughout the country. All twenty-seven are operational and open for business and thirty-six service providers are currently offering services on twenty four of the Phase I MANs. Three of the Phase I MANs are not currently used by service providers. These are: Carrickmacross, Gaoth Dobhair, and Kingscourt. While these networks are not yet being used, the significant increase in the demand for bandwidth is leading to greater demand for fibre based products and services. Therefore these MANs will be used at a future time.
An additional fifty-nine MANs covering sixty-five towns have been built under Phase II of the Programme. One other Phase II MAN is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in early 2010. Following a competitive procurement process, the Department appointed e|net as the Management Services Entity for the Phase II MANs on 8 July 2009. The Phase II MANs are being taken over by e|net on a phased basis. It is expected that this process will be completed by quarter three of 2010. Seven of the Phase II MANs are already being used by service providers and additional connections are expected as the handover process continues.
Analysis undertaken by e|net shows that up to 570,000 end users are provided with electronic communications services by service providers connected to the MANs.
Question No. 82 answered with Question No. 43.