Tender sought for broadband deployment in unserved areas

The communications minister Noel Dempsey has revealed the government is seeking a tender under the new National Broadband Scheme to extend Ireland’s broadband coverage to the estimated 100,000 households that are as yet unserved. According to RTE, this could be taken up by one operator, but it is expected that a consortium of businesses may tender together. The government has pledged to cover part of the costs for deploying the network in unprofitable areas. A shortlist will be drawn up by 5 July, with the service to be rolled out by the end of the year.