Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the provision of broadband continues to meet targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21837/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030.
I am advised that National Broadband Ireland (NBI) remain ahead of contractual targets having passed 205,638 premises by the end of 2023.
As of 03 May 2024, NBI reports that the number of Premises Passed is over 243,000 across all counties, and over 259,100 premises can order or pre-order service across all counties.
NBI reports that over 80,200 premises have been connected, with approximately 5,000 connection orders pending. To date, the level of connections is in line with projections. In several counties, the level of take-up has exceeded 30% only a few months after services were made available which is very positive.
Where fibre has been available from NBI since 2021 the take up has reached 40%. There are currently over 4,000 premises connecting to the NBP network and this monthly connection number is expected to be the average per month during 2024.
Along with the NBP intervention contract, progress is being made by commercial operators’ in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State and ensuring the targets set out in the Digital Connectivity strategy are achieved.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 4 of 2023, saw a 7.51% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to Quarter 3, 2023, and a 33.33% increase when compared to Quarter 4 of 2022. This demonstrates that the take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing greatly as the services are deployed to areas where they had previously been unavailable.
The same ComReg data also indicates that c. 40% of homes and business throughout the State are now subscribed to gigabit services through either fibre (667,771) or cable (348,251) infrastructure. In addition, the Comreg data reports at the end of Q4 2023, 75% of all premises in Ireland have access to gigabit services.
