High-speed broadband everywhere in the country by 2020, Government promises

The Government has promised to achieve 100% high-speed broadband access by 2020.

Communications Minister Alex White has published an Intervention Strategy, which sets out how the Government proposes to ensure that high speed broadband is provided in areas where the commercial sector will not invest on its own.

The draft strategy and seven detailed reports on specific aspects of the intervention, will be subject to public consultation, which runs until September 14.

Speaking at a stakeholder event at Croke Park today, Minister for Communications Alex White said: “In 2010, before this Government came to office, high speed broadband was only available to 300,000 homes in Ireland.

“That figure has grown to well over a million homes, with the potential for commercial operators to deliver high speed services to as many as 1.9 million premises.

“Under the intervention strategy I’m publishing today, we expect that 85% of the premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband in 2018, increasing to 100% by 2020."