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Parliamentary Questions to Dempsey

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  • 19-11-2004 1:21pm
    #1
    damien
    Registered Users Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭


    To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in the provision of broadband facilities in the view of the commitment to achieve 320,000 connections by 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter - Bernard J. Durkan

    Reply from Minister Dempsey:
    The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by Comreg, the Commission for Communications Regulation.

    Recent figures from ComReg indicate that there are now 104,700 broadband customers, and the figure is rising by 30% per quarter.


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    #2
    viking
    Registered Users Posts: 1,504 ✭✭✭viking


    damien.m wrote:
    The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by Comreg, the Commission for Communications Regulation.
    I knew I had seen that answer before several times.

    Viking


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    #3
    eircomtribunal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,144 ✭✭✭eircomtribunal


    The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by Comreg, the Commission for Communications Regulation.


    Broadband
    (Finalised text of and Minister's comment about the March 2004 policy direction to ComReg)

    “ComReg shall use regulatory and enforcement tools, where necessary and subject to relevant requirements under European and National law, to support initiatives to develop broadband and remove regulatory barriers, if any exist, to such initiatives. In encouraging the further rollout of broadband ComReg shall have a particular focus on:
    • the residential and SME sectors;
    • balanced regional development and;
    • potential for broadband provision on alternative platforms.

    The Goal is to be at or better than the EU average (excluding accession countries) for end-user access to, and usage of, broadband by mid 2005.”

    Views of Respondents
    A number of respondents welcomed this draft direction, others, expressed concerns ...

    Concerns were raised in relation to the goal set out in the draft direction. Clarification was requested on the consistency between the Government target to be in the top decile for broadband by 2005 and the target for ComReg to be better than the EU average. Specifically concerns were raised that the Minister was rowing back on commitments given on broadband in ‘New Connections 2002’ (The Government Action Plan for the Information Society). Clarification was requested on the target date for Ireland to reach the top decile of OECD countries for broadband. It was also pointed out in the consultation that the goal set out in draft direction may become less challenging with the accession of new member states to the EU.

    The necessity of the direction was questioned given existing broadband rollout programmes.

    Minister’s Comments:

    The goal is being modified to clarify that the goal applies to the EU average excluding the new accession States. This goal is for ComReg. The overall more challenging government target is being addressed by a multi-pronged approach not just regulation and includes public and private sector initiatives to expedite rollout and take-up of affordable..."

    ComReg have to report back on the success of their strategy and have done so end June and end September. My FOI is not back to me yet, but I am already informed that a lot of the information will be held back because of commercial sensitivity.
    Without radical intervention now, there is no chance of reaching the EU-average by mid 2005: To reach it we would need about 8 to 9 bb connections per 100 inhabitants (320 000 to 360 000) and a bb availability of 80 to 90 percent of population.

    By mid 2005 Noel can again tell us on RTE that in hindsight ....


    Recent figures from ComReg indicate that there are now 104,700 broadband customers, and the figure is rising by 30% per quarter.

    This figure includes dsl, cable and other bb subscriptions, I would think. 100 000 bb subscriptions, or 2.5 per 100 inhabitants leaves Ireland way back on second last place in the EU. Third last EU country Luxembourg had already increased its level to 5.9 bb subscriptions per 100 inhabitants by mid 2004.

    Doherty with his "steep trajectory" should have stayed with the IDA. In that place pussyfooting, sucking up to and stuffing big companies with dosh does bear fruit. As a regulator other qualities are needed.

    Here's the maths Noel is wishing for:
    110 000 by end 2004
    185 900 by mid 2005 (well short of the EU-15 average, but wait what "rising 30% per quarter" can do for you)
    314 171 by end 2005
    530 948 by mid 2006
    897 303 by end 2006 (wow, Ireland is second only to South Korea!)

    Reality check:
    Only 37 percent of households have Internet (and the figure is inching upwards ever so slowly):
    476 930 of our 1 289 000 households

    even if 40% of those would go for broadband (not a chance for that to happen, but let's just assume) that will only leave us with:
    190 772 bb connections (from households)

    our low bb availability will reduce that figure further down
    with 80% availability, down to 152 617,
    with 70% availability, down to 133 540

    add in some 60 000 (?) business bb connections and you see the limits.

    P.


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