Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
982. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if the targets contained in the recently published national broadband plan for 30MB broadband speed across rural Ireland involves fibre connectivity as opposed to mobile broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38422/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra983. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the way he will assess where there has been market failure in the provision of high speed broadband in rural Ireland; if this process has already begun; if any specific areas in County Louth have been identified where the market has failed to provide adequate high speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38423/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra984. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if the towns of County Louth will be included in the 50% of the population to which he is aiming to deliver 70 - 100MB broadband speeds by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38424/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra985. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of the population of County Louth that currently have access to broadband speeds in excess of 70MB and the way this compare to the average across the State. [38425/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 982 to 985, inclusive, together.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30 Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible.
The National Broadband Plan for Ireland commits to high speed broadband availability across the country – specifically:
70 Mbps – 100 Mbps will be available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by 2015;
At least 40 Mbps, and in many cases faster speeds, to at least a further 20% (and potentially as much as 35%) of the population during the lifetime of the Government; and
A minimum of 30 Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country, also during the lifetime of the Government.
During the preparation of the National Broadband Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70 Mbps to 100 Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015. The areas to be provided with those services will be determined by the commercial market operators.
One of the first steps in delivering on the 30 Mbps and 40 Mbps commitments will be the completion of a formal national mapping exercise to determine the exact position in relation to commercial service providers’ existing and planned broadband services throughout the country. Preparatory work has commenced within my Department to expedite this mapping exercise.
County level statistics on the percentage of the population which currently has access to broadband speeds in excess of 70 Mbps are not available in my Department. The mapping exercise will identify the areas of the country where there is market failure in the provision of high speed broadband services. It will also identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years. Until that process is complete, the precise areas of the country which will require State intervention will not be known. I would reiterate however, that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to above.
In compliance with EU competition law and State aid rules, the National Broadband Plan does not dictate the technological solution which will be used in the forthcoming public procurement process. The outcome of the mapping exercise will inform the design of the procurement process and the responses received from the commercial market will determine the technological solution to be used.
