I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 541 together.
I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services and make specific investments in particular locations in what is a liberalised market. The provision of mobile telecommunications services is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licences, including the application of qualifying terms and conditions such as quality of service and minimum population coverage, and the associated monitoring of compliance by licensed providers with those terms and conditions is a matter for the statutorily independent Communications Regulator, ComReg.
With respect to the quality of mobile telephony service in other countries, comparisons between Member States and within regions can be problematic for many reasons, including the fact that the technical characteristics of mobile phone networks that determine coverage and capacity will vary between operators and locations. Other factors would include the characteristics of individual markets, including topograph, population density, frequencies used etc.
Notwithstanding ComReg's independence, I recognise the frustration felt by Irish consumers where telecommunications networks are not always delivering the services people expect. The Programme for Government specifically included a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. The Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce a report in December 2016, available on my Department’s website, containing 40 actions to alleviate some of the deficits. An Implementation Group is overseeing implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery.
My Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development published the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Review 2017 on 21 February 2018, which comprehensively outlines the progress made in 2017 on the Taskforce actions. Of the 40 actions, 29 have been completed, with work on the remaining 11 carrying into the 2018 Work Programme. Following close engagement with stakeholders at the inaugural National Stakeholder Forum 2017, an additional 23 new measures were identified for delivery in 2018. The second Annual National Stakeholder Forum was held in October 2018 and the outcome of those discussions together with the quarterly reports will feed into preparation of the 2018 Annual Review report which will be published in Q1 2019.
As Minster for Communications, it is important that both I and my officials engage on a regular basis with telecoms operators on issues of relevance to the development of the sector. In relation to engagement with providers on improving coverage, a number of Departmental officials meet with individual companies and representative groups in relation to their specific commitments under the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce report.
The type of actions for delivery by the telecommunications operators in this regard include work on identifying blackspot locations needing prioritisation; identifying, in consultation with Local Authorities and other key stakeholders, optimal locations for additional infrastructure to improve 4G coverage; introduction of WiFi calling; and reporting on activities undertaken to optimise the performance of their networks.
Discussions arising at such meetings with Industry inform the regular quarterly progress reports, which are published on my Department’s website and that of the Department of Rural and Community Development. The minutes of meetings of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Group are also published on both Departments’ websites.
