Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
141. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight or regulatory measures in place to ensure that providers do not unduly restrict access to essential broadband infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15267/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland and will be delivered through investment by commercial enterprises coupled with intervention by the State in those parts of the country (Intervention Area) where private companies have no plans to invest. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.
Along with the NBP intervention contract, progress is being made by commercial operators Open eir, Virgin Media and Siro in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State in the non-intervention area which is identified by the blue area on the broadband map which is available on www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/.
This data complements the analysis and proactive monitoring conducted by the Department and informs policy development to address locations where networks may not be upgraded to gigabit services by 2028. As a specific regulatory measure for consumers, if a person lives in the BLUE area and are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps after contacting their Retail Service Provider, they should raise a query via the official webform which can be accessed by clicking on “contact us” in the Contact section on www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/ and the Department will escalate with the commercial operator to investigate this matter further.
In Ireland, there are four primary broadband infrastructure wholesale providers: OpenEir, Virgin Media, SIRO, and National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) regulates the wholesale telecommunications market in Ireland to promote competition, primarily by identifying Significant Market Power (SMP) and enforcing open access obligations on dominant operators.
These regulatory measures obligate operators to make their physical infrastructure (such as poles and ducts) and local access (connectivity from a local exchange to a customer premises) available for other operators to rent and use. Notably, Eir is designated as having SMP in the wholesale local access market in Ireland and as such they are closely monitored by ComReg.
Within the NBP Intervention Area, NBI does not sell directly to consumers; instead, over 75 Retail Service Providers utilise NBI's infrastructure and wholesale products to provide broadband services to premises nationwide.
