National Broadband Plan ‘is at least 10 to 12 years away’, says Nova Telecom chief

The National Broadband Plan is at least 10 to 12 years away from completion, given all the obstacles that must be overcome to implement it, a broadband expert has warned.

Chief executive of Cork-headquartered Nova Broadband and Nova Telecom, Dave McDonald said that even with every stakeholder pulling in the same direction to have broadband introduced to every home in Ireland, a three to five-year timeframe was unrealistic given the challenges.

Mr McDonald, whose companies have provided broadband for thousands of homes and businesses in regional Ireland, said: “The National Broadband Plan is a good thing for the country. To be fair, the plan has whipped the commercial sector into shape, with the rolling out of rural fibre.