Broadband

Broadband has become a necessity of everyday life in Ireland.

Delivery of high speed broadband to all parts of Ireland is a government priority.

The National Broadband Plan is a framework for the delivery of high speed broadband services through commercial and state investment.

The plan follows previous initiatives such as the National Broadband Scheme, which provided basic broadband services in areas that could not be commercially served, and the Metropolitan Area Networks, which provides fibre based connectivity to over 90 towns across Ireland.

High speed broadband is being delivered through a combination of:

• commercial investment by the telecommunications sector
• a state intervention in those areas where commercial providers acting alone will not provide this service

The government is in the final stages of appointing a company to build, maintain and operate a high speed broadband network in the state intervention area over a 25 year period.

The Programme for a Partnership Government committed to the establishment of a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.

It aims to:

• identify solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits
• investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention (NBP)

In December 2016, the Taskforce published a Report which outlined the issues considered by it. The report also set out tangible actions to alleviate barriers to mobile reception and broadband access. To monitor and drive progress, an Implementation Group has been meeting quarterly and publishing reports and implementation reviews. A Three Year Review will be published in 2020 which will set out the achievements of the Taskforce.

The Taskforce has delivered upon over 70 targeted actions spanning the telecoms sector, which have streamlined processes, influenced legislation, improved the consumer experience and removed barriers to investment in networks in both urban and rural areas. The government expects that the relationships and structures of collaboration established so far will be carried forward and strengthened as the Taskforce progresses in the future.

The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are State-owned telecoms networks which consist of carrier-neutral telecoms duct and fibre optic cable rings linking the main commercial and public buildings to "co-location centres". Telecommunications operators locate their equipment in these co-location centres and access the MANs network.

A total of 88 MANs covering 94 regional towns and cities were constructed under the MANs Programme. 28 MANs were completed under Phase I and 60 MANs (covering 66 towns) were completed under Phase II.

The MANs were co-financed by central government, local authorities and the EU's European Regional Development Fund. The MANs are independently managed, maintained and operated for the State by a Management Services Entity (MSE), enet.

Following an open tender process, enet was appointed in July 2004 to manage the Phase I MANs for a 15 year term. In July 2009, following a further open tender process, enet was awarded a 15 year contract to manage the 60 Phase II MANs. In order to provide certainty to the telecoms market, and to ensure the continued availability of the MANs infrastructure, the term of both MSE Contracts was extended to 2030.

During the planning of the Galway-Mayo Gas pipeline by Gas Networks Ireland (formerly Bord Gáis Éireann) in 2005, the then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources decided to fund the installation of a telecommunications duct alongside the new gas pipeline.

The pipeline and ducting were installed between Ballymoneen in County Galway and the new gas terminal constructed in Bellanaboy, County Mayo with a spur into Castlebar and Westport. Construction took place between 2006 and 2008.

The building of the gas pipeline provided a unique opportunity to build a new underground telecommunication backhaul infrastructure at marginal cost which, in turn, could provide broadband connectivity to parts of County Galway and County Mayo. Ownership of the telecommunications duct remains with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Shell Exploration and Production Ireland Limited (SEPIL) funded the cost of the installation of the fibre optic cable in the duct for the benefit of the Minister.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications is currently in the process of procuring a Management Services Entity (MSE) to manage, operate and market the infrastructure. Pending the appointment of the MSE, the Minister has entered into an interim agreement with Gas Networks Ireland to provide limited dark fibre services to customers between Bellanaboy (Co. Mayo) and Ballymoneen (Co. Galway). Further queries regarding obtaining access to dark fibre may be addressed to Gas Networks Ireland:

Emer Walsh | Head of Legal Services

Gas Networks Ireland

PO Box 51, Gasworks Road, Cork, T12RX96, Ireland

Telephone +353 (1) 872901968

Email: emer.walsh@gasnetworks.ie