Broadband Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2018

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Ceisteanna (474)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

474. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the formal procurement process to select a company or companies that will roll out a new high-speed broadband network in the State intervention area has been finalised; if so, the proposed timeframe by which high-speed fibre broadband will be available to all premises here under the national broadband plan, by region; if it is still the case that this is set to increase to 77% or 1.8 million premises by the end of 2018 and to 90% or 2.1 million premises by the end of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3191/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m premises) by the end of 2018 and to 90% (2.1m premises) by the end of 2020. My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area under the NBP. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage. 

The "Detailed Solutions” submitted by two bidders last September are being evaluated by the NBP specialist team. This is the last stage of the procurement process before moving to the final tender stage, which will be followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.

As part of this procurement process, the bidder(s) will be required to submit their strategies, including timescales, for the network build and rollout. My Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.