Broadband Plan in consultation phase
It is an opportunity to comment on the accuracy of the Government’s new map which shows where commercial high speed broadband will be available in 2016, based on current broadband operator plans to build high speed networks between now and 2017.
The map shows the areas where the Government expects high speed broadband to be available from commercial operators by 2016 (marked blue). All areas in the map coloured amber will be covered by the Government intervention. The map shows 700,000 premises out of a total of 2.3m will need Government intervention to deliver high speed broadband.
Go to the www.dcenr.gov.ie website to see the 2016 connectivity map, and to find out how to take part in the public consultation, which is required under EU competition guidelines.
As well as helping to identify where State investment may be required to enable access to high speed broadband, the ongoing consultation will help with details such as strategic connection points for connecting communities, according to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The map presents a 2016 planned high speed broadband coverage, based on the detailed information provided by the commercial operators. It is designed to inform the Government’s intervention strategy – making sure that Government does not invest where commercial services are planned.
Commercial operators are currently upgrading their networks with new towns coming on stream every month. For example, eircom has rolled out services to 1 million premises in the last 18 months. It expects to roll out services to a further 600,000 premises between now and end 2016. A map that reflects only current high speed broadband would be out of date quickly.
Under EU competition guidelines, the Government is required to clearly identify which geographic areas are to be covered by the State support measure. The guidelines also require Governments to consult publicity to the main characteristics of the proposed intervention and the list of target areas. By publishing the Map and consulting on the Strategy we aim to ensure that we don’t duplicate commercial investment.
This is not possible as the State cannot intervene to provide services in areas where a commercial operator is present. The aim of the intervention is to ensure that everyone has services equivalent to those provided in theblue areas.
I’m living an area marked blue but there is no connectivity available on my street/road?
If you are in a blue area and you don’t have a high speed broadband service, you should first check commercial operator websites to see whether your area has been upgraded yet.
There are three possible reasons why your area is marked blue but you don’t have service:
Your area has not been upgraded yet. All the blue areas are expected to be upgraded by the end of 2016. You can check operator maps and websites for an update on when your area is expected to be upgraded.
Your area has been upgraded but there is a problem with your individual service. If this is the case you should contact your service provider. If this fails to resolve the matter you can contact ComReg (the independent regulator for the telecommunications industry) at http://www.askcomreg.ie/
Your area has been upgraded but there are clusters of buildings in this area that have not been fully upgraded for technical reasons. Telecommunications operators have advised the Department that all of these areas will be addressed by the end of 2016. If you think your home or business falls into this category you can contact us using the on-line form. By providing us with specific details of your address we can follow up with the appropriate commercial providers.
In most of the blue areas consumers already will have a choice of supplier from a fixed line operator. As the market continues to develop and further investments are rolled out the Government expects to see an increase in the overall level of retail competition in the high speed broadband market. This should ensure more customer choice.
Even though the State will pay the cost of building a high speed broadband network, a commercial retail operator will provide the actual broadband service into your home or business. We want to make sure this service is affordable. The best way for us to do that is through encouraging competition among commercial operators. Ensuring that services are affordable will be an important part of the detailed intervention strategy that will be published next year.
No. The Plan envisages public investment in the capital costs of building the necessary infrastructure to support high-quality broadband services. It is not the role of the State to be an active player in the market. The State will however be designing an intervention that ensures affordable bills, with prices similar to those available in the blue areas.
Irish businesses will have access to significantly broader potential markets, will be able to engage in e-commerce (both purchasing and selling), will be able to instantly contact customers/suppliers, can reduce daily running costs (through electronic invoicing etc.), and will be able to upload and download much higher volume data files.
It will also enable easier remote access for staff who are travelling or wish to work from home. In short, the availability of high speed broadband has the potential to revolutionise the way in which business is run on a day-to-day basis.
For an investment of this scale, cost and importance, it is essential that the State has confidence that the tendered-for service is actually being delivered.
Part of the strategy development process we are undertaking at present involves considering how best to monitor and measure the quality and consistency of the service that will be delivered to individual premises.
