Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2010
454 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the most cost-effective and efficient means for provision of broadband, whether by wire, fibre optic, wireless or otherwise; the extent of investment under each heading thus far; when it is expected that full high-speed broadband will become available throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23422/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy on the development of the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband — Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance with various key principles, which are crucial to the development of the market including—
(i) competition, at platform and service levels, which drives innovation and investment,
(ii) investment certainty for service providers considering investing in network infrastructure,
(iii) investment intervention by Government to bridge any digital divide in cases of market failure and to meet some of the State's own communication needs, and
(iv) appropriate regulation.
The policy paper contains specific targets to ensure that every area in Ireland has broadband access by 2010 and that broadband speeds will be equal to or in excess of those in comparator EU regions by 2012.
Electronic communications services, including broadband services, are provided by various private sector companies operating in a liberalised open market under EU and national legislation. The authority of member states is generally limited to regulation and occasional investment intervention to address market failure. Additionally, the Government facilitates infrastructure investment, where appropriate and possible, by (i) providing a stable regulatory environment; (ii) maintaining certainty to facilitate investment, and (iii) providing access to State owned infrastructure.
Although my Department monitors market developments to ensure that Government policy objectives are being delivered, costs incurred by operators in the provision of broadband services, including capital investment costs, are matters for the relevant operators. The operators are not required to notify such costs to my Department.
455 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the precise areas throughout the country which are currently deficient in respect of broadband availability; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23423/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra456 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost to date of the provision of broadband throughout the country; the extent to which this entailed the most modern high-speed technology; the areas in the country still deficient in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23424/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.
The provision of broadband services is in the first instance a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite.
In cases of market failure the Government will intervene, where it is appropriate and possible to do so. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are examples of such market intervention.
Details of the telecommunications service providers operating on a county by county basis can be found at www.callcosts.ie on ComReg's website. In addition, my own Department's website www.dcenr.ie carries full details of all of the electoral divisions throughout the country that are included in the NBS.
It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be a small percentage of premises throughout the country that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.). It is therefore not possible to say precisely where these individual premises might be located, except that they will not be in NBS areas.
The European Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Programme (EERP) funding and granted State Aid approval for rural broadband initiatives. My Department is currently progressing the design and implementation of a scheme which would be available to un-served rural premises outside of the NBS areas. This work will include the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband. It is hoped to commence this scheme in late 2010 and have it completed by 2012. As the scheme is only at the design stage, there is no application process at this juncture. Information in relation to acceptance of applications and the process of qualification under the scheme will be made available in due course when the scheme is launched.
To-date the cost to the Department for Phase I MANs is €76 million and €81 million for Phase II.
The total current and capital cost of the full rollout of the NBS has been estimated by "3" at some €223 million, of which a maximum of €79.8 million will be contributed by the Government and the EU. The Government and the EU contribution to date under the Scheme amounts to some €48 million.
In rolling out the NBS, 3 is effectively future-proofing the network by upgrading its 3G network to the latest Nokia Siemens Internet High Speed Packet Access ("I-HSPA") technology. This is a world first in terms of deployment of such technology. Its deployment will facilitate a speedy launch of Long Term Evolution ("LTE"), which is expected to enhance significantly the quality and speed of mobile broadband in the coming years. v Effectively, 3's NBS network is LTE ready.
I can also confirm that 3's I-HSPA network is designed and dimensioned to ensure that the network delivers the minimum contracted service, or better to all NBS users. Performance monitoring reports, including customer experience data, confirms this to be the case.
