Broadband for 2,770 households next year
SINN Féin spokesperson on Broadband and Communications, Ruairí Ó Murchú TD has welcomed the commitment by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to ‘ technically and commercially assess the plans to accelerate the National Broadband Plan’.
Deputy Ó Murchú made a number of recommendations around the survey, design, build and connection aspect of the National Broadband Plan commenting on the number of community accessible Broadband Connection Points that have yet to go live.
‘I welcome NBIs commitment to provide the Minister for Transport and Communication Networks an update on the possible acceleration of timeframes in early 2021.
‘Households just outside of Dundalk and Drogheda in my own constituency face the situation whereas neighbouring households and townlands have access to broadband through private operators while they do not.
‘In Dundalk 2,770 households have been given the timeframe of August – October 2021 for an anticipated date for connection.
He welcomed the commitment by NBI to approach private operators to discuss short term solutions for these household, noting that he had urged NBI to consider short-term solutions.
‘ The National Broadband Plan aims to have 544,000 homes, schools, farms and businesses fitted with a fibre connection by 2025. There will be households waiting five years for a broadband connection and the survey and design phase must take into consideration the fastest option for household connection.
He described the National Broadband Ireland’s announcement of a team solely focussed on the acceleration of all aspects of the broadband rollout as positive.
‘At a time when many people are working from home, we need to ensure more than ever that households have access to the broadband service they need and deserve,’ he concluded.‘It is imperative that this project is delivered as soon as possible’.