Minister promises broadband access for all

Communications Minister Alex White has pledged that everyone would soon have access to high-speed broadband, no matter where they live.

He acknowledged that people living in rural areas had a grievance because they felt left behind as technology advanced, but gave an assurance they would get increased broadband speeds.

Speaking in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, he gave a “very clear statement’’ of personal commitment, and that of the Government, to make the necessary service available to all citizens, irrespective of location.

Implementation of the national broadband plan was a key priority for the Government and his department, he added.

The minister said the Government’s intervention in the market would involve a substantial network, likely to be fibre-based and capable of meeting current and future demands.

“This infrastructure will extend to every county in the State identified as having no existing or planned high-speed network access,’’ he said.

Eircom and other commercial operators are servicing areas with more than 900 residents, while Mr White’s department is identifying areas not serviced by the commercial sectors, all of which will be included in the national plan, he said.

A mapping exercise is under way and, following a period of public consultation, an implementation strategy will be published next year.

After that, Mr White said there will be a competitive tendering process to appoint a company, or companies, to build the rural broadband network.

Demand for broadband continues to rise, with 1.7m customers at present compared to 153,000 in 2005.

Mr White made a presentation to Caherciveen guesthouse-owner, Alan Landers, who became the one-millionth customer in Ireland for high-speed broadband.