Broadband Service Provision

Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Ceisteanna (9)

David Stanton

Ceist:

9. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total cost of delivering the metropolitan area networks, MANs; if all 88 MANs are now lit; the numbers of persons and businesses using the MANs infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11656/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

The cost to the State of delivering the Metropolitan Area Networks or MANs Programme is in the region of €176 million. The Programme was eligible for co-funding of 40% to 50% under the European Regional Development Fund. Phase I of the MANs programme delivered optical fibre based networks to twenty eight towns and cities around the country. The total capital cost of Phase I of the Programme was €85 million. Phase II of the MANs programme delivered a further sixty fibre networks serving sixty-six towns. The total capital cost of Phase II of the Programme is €91.5 million. The MANs are managed, maintained and operated by e|net, who were appointed as Concessionaire following a procurement process in 2004 for the Phase I MANs and in 2009 for the Phase II MANs. e|net makes the networks available to the telecommunications sector on an open access basis.

Of the 88 MANs, 83 are currently “lit”, that is, connected to backhaul and in use by one or more licensed telecoms service providers. The final Phase II MAN, Kinsale, will shortly be handed over to e|net. The MANs that are not currently lit are available and ready to meet demand for services as it arises. e|net is a commercial organisation and information on traffic on the MANs is commercially sensitive. However, it is estimated that in excess of 600,000 individuals and business users are currently benefiting from the MANs infrastructure. The number of connections to the MANs has doubled in recent years and over 50 service providers are using the MANs infrastructure.

Since the inception of the MANs Programme, demand for bandwidth has increased significantly and this increase is expected to continue. Almost all broadband service providers are increasingly turning to optical fibre to backbone their networks. Service providers will continue to bring optical fibre closer to their end users. The MANs are ready to meet the demand for fibre connectivity and are well placed to serve the needs of service providers and their end users for the foreseeable future. The following table sets out a list of the MANs, the construction completion date for each MAN and the current status of each MAN:

Phase One Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)

-	MAN	County	Year of Completion	Year MAN was lit
1	Cavan	Cavan	2006	2006
2	Kingscourt	Cavan	2006	2012
3	Cork	Cork	2005	2005
4	Carlow	Carlow	2005	2006
5	Letterkenny	Donegal	2004	2005
6	Gweedore	Donegal	2005	2011
7	Galway	Galway	2004	2004
8	Kilkenny	Kilkenny	2005	2006
9	Portlaoise	Laois	2005	2005
10	Carrick-on-Shannon	Leitrim	2005	2005
11	Manorhamilton	Leitrim	2005	2006
12	Limerick	Limerick	2005	2005
13	Dundalk	Louth	2006	2006
14	Drogheda	Louth	2006	2006
15	Ballina	Mayo	2003	2004
16	Belmullet	Mayo	2011	Not yet lit
17	Kiltimagh	Mayo	2003	2009
18	Carrickmacross	Monaghan	2006	2012
19	Monaghan	Monaghan	2006	2008
20	Tullamore	Offaly	2005	2006
21	Roscommon	Roscommon	2004	2006
22	Sligo	Sligo	2005	2005
23	Clonmel	Tipperary	2004	2004
24	Dungarvan	Waterford	2004	2006
25	Waterford	Waterford	2005	2005
26	Athlone	Westmeath	2004	2005
27	Mullingar	Westmeath	2005	2006
28	Wexford	Wexford	2005	2005

Phase Two Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)

	MAN	County	Year of Completion	Year MAN was lit
1	Cootehill	Cavan	2007	2010
2	Bailieborough	Cavan	2007	2012
3	Kilrush	Clare	2008	2012
4	Bantry	Cork	2008	2010
5	Blarney	Cork	2008	2009
6	Carrigaline/Ringaskiddy/Passage West	Cork	2008	2009
7	Charleville	Cork	2008	2011
8	Dunmanway	Cork	2008	2012
9	Fermoy	Cork	2008	2012
10	Kanturk	Cork	2008	2013
11	Kinsale	Cork	2013	Not lit yet
12	Midleton	Cork	2008	2012
13	Mitchelstown	Cork	2008	2013
14	Skibbereen	Cork	2008	2012
15	Youghal	Cork	2008	2012
16	Ballybofey/Stranorlar	Donegal	2007	2011
17	Ballyshannon	Donegal	2007	2009
18	Buncrana	Donegal	2007	2011
19	Bundoran	Donegal	2007	2012
20	Carndonagh	Donegal	2007	2012
21	Donegal Town	Donegal	2007	2010
22	Donabate/Portrane	Dublin	2007	2010
23	Lusk	Dublin	2007	2011
24	Skerries	Dublin	2007	2011
25	Athenry	Galway	2007	2012
26	Ballinasloe	Galway	2007	2011
27	Clifden	Galway	2007	2013
28	Gort	Galway	2007	2012
29	Loughrea	Galway	2007	2011
30	Killarney	Kerry	2008	2009
31	Castleisland	Kerry	2008	2010
32	Tralee	Kerry	2008	2009
33	Listowel	Kerry	2008	2010
34	Thomastown	Kilkenny	2008	2013
35	Abbeyfeale	Limerick	2008	2012
36	Newcastlewest	Limerick	2008	2012
37	Longford	Longford	2007	2009
38	Ardee	Louth	2007	2012
39	Ballinrobe	Mayo	2007	2012
40	Claremorris	Mayo	2008	2011
41	Knock	Mayo	2007	Not yet lit
42	Clonee/Dunboyne	Meath	2007	2009
43	Dunshaughlin	Meath	2007	2013
44	Kells	Meath	2007	2011
45	Navan	Meath	2007	2009
46	Trim	Meath	2007	2011
47	Castleblayney	Monaghan	2007	2010
48	Clones	Monaghan	2007	2012
49	Nenagh	North Tipperary	2008	2012
50	Roscrea	North Tipperary	2008	2012
51	Templemore	North Tipperary	2008	2011
52	Edenderry	Offaly	2009	2011
53	Banagher	Offaly	2008	Not yet lit
54	Birr	Offaly	2008	2011
55	Cahir	South Tipperary	2008	2012
56	Carrick-on-Suir	South Tipperary	2008	2012
57	Tipperary	Tipperary	2008	2013
58	Cashel	Tipperary	2008	2012
59	Blessington	Wicklow	2008	Not yet lit
60	Kilcoole/Newtownmountkennedy	Wicklow	2008	2012

Questions Nos. 10 and 11 answered orally.