Comms watchdog will publish a coverage map to pinpoint bad signal blackspots

THE GOVERNMENT HAS published an action plan on how it expects to deliver the long-delayed National Broadband Plan next year.

The ‘taskforce’ set up to recommend how to improve mobile phone coverage and broadband access around the country set out 19 measures in the report.

Among them was the immediate exemption of planning permission for 4G antenna, which the report said “will allow (the telco) industry to accelerate the rollout of 4G services”.

The report also said 24 local authorities will be funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to assign an officer responsible for broadband and will act as a “single point of contact” for telecommunications operators.

“Telecommunications operators will engage with the single point of contact to scope and manage any issues and risks associated with the sites they are proposing for their infrastructure,” it said.

Ministers Denis Naughten and Heather Humphreys

It also outlined that ComReg, the country’s communications watchdog, will publish a ‘national coverage map’ similar to one published by its UK equivalent, Ofcom, to help consumers find network providers with adequate coverage relevant to their home or place of work. The map will be published in 2018.

A so-called ‘implementation group’ will start meeting every 90 days from next month to “drive forward and oversee the implementation of the actions contained in the taskforce’s report”.

Ibec group TIF, or the Telecommunications and Internet Federation, welcomed the report and said “the focus must now turn to implementing the practical steps needed to improve the quality of the mobile and broadband service to the public”.

Delays

Ireland has frequently scored poorly in comparison to other EU countries when it comes to the percentage of households that have access to broadband.

The National Broadband Plan was first announced in 2012 with very little progress made until last year, when then-minister for communications Alex White said he expected to sign contracts with the winning bidder or bidders by mid-2016.

However, the procurement process is still ongoing and a winning bidder has yet to be appointed.

Minister for Communications Denis Naughten said he was “critically aware of the frustrations being felt across Ireland in terms of poor connectivity” and was prioritising  the delivery of the National Broadband Plan in “the shortest time possible”.