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National Broadband Plan Implementation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019

Tuesday, 14 May 2019

Ceisteanna (408)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

408. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if broadband will be extended to a property (details supplied) under the State-led intervention under the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20698/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.

The National Broadband Plan intervention is the subject of the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate and maintain the NBP State intervention network. I recently brought a recommendation to Government to confer Preferred Bidder status on the remaining bidder in the NBP procurement process and Government agreed to this at its meeting on 7 May. The company established to deliver the NBP is called National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

The Government decision means that it is intended to award the State Intervention contract to NBI, subject to the completion of the final contract arrangements. Deployment of the NBP State Intervention network will commence shortly after contract signature.

In the first year of this roll out, the Bidder will deploy approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county. BCPs will provide a community-based high-speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations. A deployment plan will be made available by the bidder once the contract is signed. The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises by end of the second year of the overall deployment, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.

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