enet has welcomed the Government’s strong commitment to delivering a next generation access (NGA) network as outlined in its National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Strategy published today.
The document proposes the construction of a high speed broadband network, capable of delivering a minimum of 30Mbps to every home and business across the country. The NBP aims to see this network being deployed through a combination of State and commercial investment.
Conal Henry, enet CEO commented: “enet is encouraged by the Minister’s announcement and his personal commitment to the delivery of a superfast broadband network across Ireland and, while ent is fully committed to the National Broadband Plan, our policy makers do need to tread carefully on the issue of NBP asset ownership.”
Henry went on to say: “As a direct result of enet’s unique experience in managing State-owned fibre assets, we strongly believe that the State should retain ownership of the NBP assets. enet is convinced that this model will provide both financial and policy advantages, and thereby maximise the value and effectiveness of this Exchequer-funded programme.”
He concluded: “State ownership would dictate that the focus would be on the operation of the network to maximise the desired policy outcomes – affordable, reliable, high quality broadband for all the projected 700,000 premises.”
The NBP will see a new network built to deliver superfast broadband to over 700,000 premises, comprised of 100,000 businesses and 600,000 residential premises in rural Ireland, in areas deemed to be unviable for commercial broadband companies. This equates to almost 100,000 kilometres of road.