ICBAN Regional Telecommunications Action Plan Innovacom Consulting Irish Central Border Area Network Regional Telecommunications Action Plan A STRATEGIC WAY FORWARD FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CENTRAL BORDER REGION AUGUST 2012 ICBA002O Page 0 REV O ICBAN Regional Telecommunications Action Plan Innovacom Consulting Table of Contents 0 Foreword ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 1 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Key Findings ......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 The ICBAN Vision ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.4 Summary of Recommendations and Actions ................................................................................... 9 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.1 Context and Background .................................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Research Already Undertaken by ICBAN Member Councils ...................................................... 13 2.3 Report Overview................................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 16 3 Telecommunications Infrastructure in Northern Ireland ....................................................................... 18 3.1 Fixed Line Telecommunications Services ...................................................................................... 18 3.2 Mobile Telecommunications Services ............................................................................................. 26 3.3 Fixed Wireless Telecommunications Services .............................................................................. 31 4 Telecommunications Infrastructure in the Republic of Ireland ............................................................ 34 4.1 Fixed Line Telecommunications Services ...................................................................................... 34 4.2 Mobile Telecommunications Services ............................................................................................. 40 4.3 Fixed Wireless Telecommunications Services .............................................................................. 45 5 Overview of Technologies ........................................................................................................................ 54 5.1 Fixed Line Technologies ................................................................................................................... 54 5.2 Mobile Technologies .......................................................................................................................... 56 5.3 Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Technologies ................................................................................. 58 5.4 Satellite Services ................................................................................................................................ 59 5.5 Other Technologies ........................................................................................................................... 60 6 International Best Practice Comparisons ............................................................................................... 61 6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 61 6.2 Key Learnings in an ICBAN Context ............................................................................................... 61 6.3 Focus Areas for ICBAN ..................................................................................................................... 63 6.4 International Exemplar Profiles ........................................................................................................ 64 ICBA002O Page 1 REV O ICBAN Regional Telecommunications Action Plan Innovacom Consulting 7 Government Initiatives............................................................................................................................... 64 7.1 EU Initiatives ....................................................................................................................................... 64 7.2 Government Initiatives – Northern Ireland...................................................................................... 64 7.3 Government Initiatives – Republic of Ireland ................................................................................. 67 8 User Survey ................................................................................................................................................ 69 8.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 69 8.2 End-User Feedback and Experiences ............................................................................................ 70 8.3 Market Share ...................................................................................................................................... 84 8.4 Survey Profiles by Council Area ...................................................................................................... 87 9 Summary of Findings................................................................................................................................. 98 9.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 98 9.2 Findings – Northern Ireland .............................................................................................................. 98 9.3 Findings – Republic of Ireland ........................................................................................................ 102 9.4 Findings – International Exemplars ............................................................................................... 106 10 Vision ..................................................................................................................................................... 107 10.1 EU and National Broadband Targets ............................................................................................ 107 10.2 ICBAN Telecommunications Infrastructure Vision ...................................................................... 107 10.3 Challenges ........................................................................................................................................ 108 10.4 Responsibilities................................................................................................................................. 108 11 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................... 110 11.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 110 11.2 Pillar I: Planning ............................................................................................................................... 110 11.3 Pillar II: Public Assets ...................................................................................................................... 112 11.4 Pillar III: Investment ......................................................................................................................... 113 11.5 Pillar IV: Local Activism ................................................................................................................... 115 11.6 Pillar V: Demand Stimulation .......................................................................................................... 116 11.7 Indicative Costs ................................................................................................................................ 117 11.8 Summary of Recommendations and Actions ............................................................................... 120 11.9 Timelines ........................................................................................................................................... 123 12 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................... 126 13 Appendix A – International Exemplars .............................................................................................. 128 ICBA002O Page 2 REV O ICBAN Regional Telecommunications Action Plan Innovacom Consulting 13.1 Arge Glasfaser Waldviertel (AUSTRIA) ........................................................................................ 128 13.2