Nationwide Broadband Mapping Exercise Launches

The Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte, T.D. has announced that his Department has launched a national mapping exercise intended to identify those areas of the country which would not be served with high speed broadband without state intervention.

The Government's National Broadband Plan commits to broadband speeds of a minimum of 30Mbps, and where possible, higher speeds to all parts of Ireland, through a combination of public and private investment. The mapping exercise will help identify where advanced broadband services are already in place, and where there are plans already in place for such services in the coming three years. To understand what level of broadband services are provided, the Department is seeking information relating to the infrastructure used by telecoms companies to provide those services and the extent of the coverage.

Launching the mapping exercise, Minister Rabbitte said: "This information is needed to develop maps identifying those areas which will be served with fast broadband speeds by private operators and those areas where intervention by Government will be necessary to deliver the speeds required by the National Broadband Plan. We will work our way through a map of Ireland, community by community, to see which streets and roads, which towns and villages will be offered fast broadband by the commercial operators and, as a result to spot the gaps that we need to fill with state- supported investment.

"Participation in this exercise is voluntary and it is a matter for each company to decide on its own behalf. However, I am encouraged by the supportive attitude of the industry towards the National Broadband Plan. I would urge all operators in the telecommunications industry to participate as fully as possible. The information gathered will be used to confirm where it is sensible to use public money."

(CD/JP)