I’ve been asked to participate in the Minister Rabbitte’s Next Generational Broadband Taskforce (NGBT) which comprises of the CEOs of major telecos and internet service providers currently operating in the Irish market.
Essentially the NGBT has been tasked to generate a blueprint for the rollout of next generation broadband across the State and ascertain how best to couple private-sector and public sector investment.
Some sectors of the industry are already investing and obviously this is to be welcomed. The NBGT aims to accelerate this investment and seeks to encourage would-be investors to work collaboratively to maximise the roll out of next-generation infrastructure. There will obviously be investment gaps where the industry is unwilling to invest (rural regions with low population density) and this is where the State will have a part to play with direct financial support. However, the State also has a vital role in providing access to infrastructure as well as providing a regulatory environment that creates investment certainty.
To my mind any State intervention will be in support of industry investment and not in lieu of it and critically, must not remonopolise the access network. The MANs have helped the telecoms industry move away from network “ransom strips” – so future investment, particularly from the State, must not re-create the problems of old.
Anyone who has been reading my blogs will know that this next generation broadband is critical for economic recovery and growth, as well as providing essential contributions in terms of the green agenda, education, health, public sector reform and other social benefits.
