Broadband Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2017

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Ceisteanna (52)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

52. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress to date in the provision of high quality broadband in all areas throughout the country with particular reference to County Kildare; if regulation of the broadband network can be invigorated to ensure that the services work to optimum efficiency and quality; the way in which provision can be made to ensure the availability of high quality broadband to fringe areas to which service has not be extended with a view to their inclusion at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21860/17]

Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

This question relates to the importance of broadband and its provision in all areas of the country without exception, but with particular reference to County Kildare and those fringe areas that seem to have fallen between two stools and where domestic and business needs must be met as a matter of priority.

Deputy Denis Naughten

I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government's national broadband plan will provide high speed broadband access of a minimum of 30 Mbps to all premises in Ireland regardless of location. The plan has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector of €1.7 million per day for the past four years in order to bring broadband of at least 30 Mbps to 1.4 million, or 61%, of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland. This footprint is expanding.

In April, I signed a commitment agreement with Eir, which will provide broadband to an additional 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. Eir has committed to concluding this work over the next 85 weeks at an average of passing one premises every minute of every working day. My Department is monitoring this roll-out.

There are approximately 89,000 premises in County Kildare, some 13,000, or 15%, of which are located in the amber area on the State intervention map. Approximately 76,000, or 85% of premises, are located in the commercial blue area and will be served by commercial operators, including some 9,000, or 12%, under the Eir commitment agreement. Information on Eir's planned rural deployment is available at fibrerollout.ie.

A formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies to roll out a new high speed broadband network within the State intervention area, comprising approximately 540,000 premises, or 23%, across the country. The timeframe for procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors, including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders during the procurement process.

Shorter term measures to enhance broadband availability include the implementation of the mobile broadband and task force recommendations. I have signed regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with the 2017 allocation of spectrum in the 3.6 GHz radio spectrum band. This will provide an 86% increase in the total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In addition, I have secured a €8 million provision for RTE to allow it to free up the 700 MHz spectrum band. This band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances. These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland, particularly in rural areas.

My Department website, www.dccae.gov.ie, and www.broadband.gov.ie provides comprehensive information, including broadband roll-out per county information, a copy of the Eir commitment agreement and information on the mobile and broadband task force.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and the campaign to provide broadband, which is now accelerating. The work to date has been laudable and welcome, but it still leaves a number of areas in the amber region to which the Minister referred. They are concerned that they might be left in that condition for a protracted period. In anticipation of the extended broadband facilities, most people have business plans that they want and need to advance at an early stage. Will the Minister give them some reassurance?

Deputy Denis Naughten

Twelve months ago when I took over as Minister, 52% of premises had access to high speed broadband.

Within the next 85 weeks, 77% of premises will have access to high speed broadband. During my period as Minister, one in four premises in this country, the vast majority of them rural premises, will have access to high speed broadband, many of them receiving up to 1,000 Mbps, which is the fastest possible broadband speed in the world.

The national broadband plan has also stimulated investment across the commercial companies, which are spending €1.7 million per day. It will be seen that, across the amber areas, companies like Imagine have put up signage advertising up to 70 Mbps. Westnet and Ripplecom have made announcements and there will be a further announcement by a wireless company in the next few weeks in regard to the rollout.

I know there are concerns among people in amber areas across the country. Let me say this to them. One of the biggest amber areas in the country is in my constituency so I am more determined than anyone in the House to ensure this issue is resolved. It will be resolved in the short term through supporting the investment in mobile and wireless broadband services, which at least provide people with a service that can deal with the issues to which Deputy Dooley referred earlier in regard to children doing their homework and so forth, and can ensure that people have access to services such as video streaming. In the longer term, this will mean we can provide high speed broadband to every one of those premises.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

We all acknowledge the work that has been done. We fully support it and congratulate the Minister for undertaking it. However, I want to emphasise the position of those people who have been a long time waiting, who have over a number of years made business plans they want to advance and who are entirely reliant on access to high quality, high speed broadband in order to continue their businesses. They want to work from home and eliminate transport costs and road congestion. Can we reassure such people that help is within sight with a reasonable timeframe?

Deputy Denis Naughten

There are two issues. First, I am committed to making sure the national broadband plan rolls out a long-term solution to those homes and businesses as soon as possible. With regard to the Deputy's specific point on businesses, I was with a business last month in my constituency outside the town of Ballinasloe and its representatives made the same complaint to me, in that they are just outside the intervention area under the Eir commitment agreement. I was able to identify three solutions for them, two of which involved a fibre cable that runs at the edge of their site and the other was a mobile solution, and there were also two additional potential wireless solutions. There are a number of solutions out there and, while they may not be the ideal solutions, they are short-term solutions to deal with these problems.

A broadband officer has been appointed in every local authority and I encourage people to make contact with their local broadband officer to find out what networks are available in those areas. At this stage, there are very few areas that do not have access to some type of broadband service. In regard to mobile broadband services, we are in particular seeking to identify black spots across the country and find out what work we can do with the mobile companies to address those black spots, both in regard to voice and data. We are working with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on that at present.