Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1591. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made to date in rolling out the broadband connection points under the national broadband scheme contracted out by her Department; the locations of the broadband connection points provided to date; the locations still waiting on these promised points; the date they will be all provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33636/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative is a collaborative effort involving my Department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Local Authorities, National Broadband Ireland (NBI), Vodafone Ireland and the owners and managers of the host sites.
BCPs will be located in areas which do not currently have access to reliable high-speed broadband and which will, in due course, be served by the full rollout of the National Broadband Plan. BCPs will provide free public on-site internet access to some of the most rural and remote communities in the country, including many of our off-shore islands.
The initial rollout of the BCP initiative involves a wireless link being installed by NBI, followed by the installation of end-user equipment, including wifi access points, by Vodafone.
As of 23rd October, 68 public access BCPs had been installed with wifi equipment by Vodafone. New sites are connected on a daily basis and I expect 200 public access BCPs to be connected this year, with a further 100 BCPs to be connected in 2021. The locations of completed and currently planned BCPs can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-map/ .
The next phase of the BCP initiative, post-installation, will see the network of connection points supported to develop their offering to communities. Many BCPs may be in a position to provide remote working facilities, eHealth facilities, education, training and upskilling, as well as supporting the cultural and social life of the communities in which they are located.
