ireland’s broadband performance and policy actions january 2010
TRANSCRIPT
Contents
1. Current Broadband Performance
- Broadband penetration (fixed and mobile)
- Cost and speed of available services for business and residential customers
- Next generation networks
2. Market Developments
– Core and Access Networks
3. Policy Recommendations
1. Strong Growth in Broadband Take-Up… but we are not yet converging on leading countries
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Netherlands Denmark UK US OECD Ireland
Broadband Subscribers per 100 inhabitants, 2002-2009
Source: OECD, Broadband Statistics
While mobile subscriptions are high in Ireland, overall penetration rate remains average
37.0 31.6
38.1
21.8
28.9
31.3
29.3
29.1
26.4
21.4
21.4 17.0
19.8
20.8
18.1
16.8
17.0 11.3
12.6
7.6 12.7
13.1
4.9
3.2 4.1
1.6
8.3
10.8
4.7
3.2
3.2 3.8 1.6
4.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Fixed Mobile
Source: OECD Broadband Statistics (fixed) and European Commission (mobile)
Fixed and Mobile Broadband Penetration per 100 Inhabitants, July 2009
Geography Does Not Help Roll-Out of Advanced Services
Source: OECD, Broadband Statistics; World Bank, World Development Indicators
Broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants and Urban Population, June 2009
Denmark
Netherlands
Norway
Switzerland
South Korea
Sweden
Finland
Canada
UK
France
Germany
US
Australia
Japan
OECD-28
New Zealand
Austria
Spain
Ireland
Italy
Hungary
Poland
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Urb
an
Po
pu
lati
on
as
% o
f T
ota
l Po
pu
lati
on
Broadband Subscribers per 100 Inhabitants
Low Penetration, High Urbanisation High Penetration, High Urbanisation
Low Penetration, Low Urbanisation High Penetration, Low Urbanisation
Download speeds in Ireland remain below the fastest speeds in other OECD countries
Fixed Broadband Lines by Speed, July 2009
16%
5%
66%
58%
19%
38%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
>10 MB/s 2-10 MB/s <2 MB/s
Source: European Commission Working Document: Broadband access in the EU 1 July 2009.
Business Products are Improving (speed/costs) - but the most widely available service still offers
relatively slow speedsFastest DSL Connection offered by the incumbent and Annual € Cost
Australia Belgium
Canada
Denmark
EU-14
FinlandFrance
Germany
Greece Ireland (Limited Areas)
Ireland (Widely Available)
Italy
Japan
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway Poland
Portugal Sweden
UK
US
0
10
20
30
40
50
€0 €200 €400 €600 €800 €1,000 €1,200 €1,400 €1,600 €1,800
Fa
ste
st D
ow
nlo
ad
Sp
ee
d A
va
ilab
le (
MB
/s)
Annual Cost € Excluding VAT
Low Cost, High Speed High Cost, High Speed
Low Cost, Low Speed High Cost, Low Speed
Source: Teligen, September 2009
Ireland compares poorly with leading countries in terms of the fastest speed available to residential customers
Netherlands
France South Korea
Spain DenmarkEU-15 NorwayUK
Japan
GermanyAustriaPoland Portugal
FinlandBelgiumGreece
IrelandItaly
SloveniaLuxembourg Canada
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
€100 €300 €500 €700
Fa
ste
st D
ow
nlo
ad S
pe
ed (M
B/s
)
Annual Cost € Excluding VAT
Low Cost, High Speed High Cost, High Speed
Low Cost, Low Speed High Cost, Low Speed
Source: Teligen, September 2009
Fastest Residential DSL/Cable Connection and Annual Cost
Ireland remains behind leading regions in upgrading the local access network to fibre
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
December 2008 J une 2009
Source: OECD, Broadband Statistics
Fibre Connections as a Percentage of Total Broadband Connections, June 2009
Ireland lags competitors as an increasing number of countries develop the capability to support next generation telecoms services
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
So
uth
Ko
rea
Jap
an
Sw
ed
en
Ne
the
rla
nd
s
De
nm
ark
Sw
itze
rla
nd
Fra
nce
Fin
lan
d
US
Hu
ng
ary
Ge
rma
ny
Ca
na
da
UK
Au
stra
lia
Sp
ain
Po
lan
d
Ne
w
Ze
ala
nd
Ire
lan
d
Italy
Lu
xem
bo
urg
Tomorrow's Applications BQS Threshold: 50
Today's Applications BQS Threshold: 30
CISCO/Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, September 2009
Readiness to Support Next Generation Broadband Services, 2009
2. Market Developments
► International connectivity is strong
► Major improvements in the ‘core’ network
• Investment by telecommunications operators strong
• State-driven developments have played a strong role – ESB, BGE, CIE, Local Authorities - Metropolitan Area Networks, etc.
► Investment in Upgrading Access Networks Disappointing (from the national/ regional network to the customer premises)
• Eircom – some trials but no investment plan
• UPC investing significantly – potential speeds of 120 Mb/s in areas where it is active
• Recent launch of WiMax service in key cities (offering 8Mb)
• Trials of advanced mobile services (Long-Term Evolution) likely in next two years
3. Immediate Policy Requirements► Greater investment in telecommunications
infrastructure is essential if Ireland is to converge towards leading OECD countries in terms of high quality services
The report outlines action to:
► 3.1 Facilitate the Necessary Investment by Private Telecommunications Operators
► 3.2 Utilise Existing State Investments and Regulations
3.1 We Need to Facilitate Private Investment in Risky Network Upgrades► Ensure an appropriate return on investment to
incentivise investment in Next Generation Networks
► Examine the potential for infrastructure sharing while maintaining competition in the market
► Make spectrum available for wireless options – switching off analogue TV is key – update the 1926 Wireless Act
► Ensure wholesale access to a range of advanced products
► Reduce the cost of network rollout – minimise costs and onerous planning rules, and fragmentation across local authorities
3.2 Role of State Investment and Regulation► Progress the ‘one-stop-shop’ and the mandatory provision of ducting in building regulations
► Progress on local loop unbundling – competition spurs investment in fibre
► Mainstream the Provision of Access Infrastructure into Existing State Investment Plans
• Water distribution networks and metering, Smart Electricity Metering, Sewers, Roads, etc.
• Can Local Authorities play a more proactive role in developing open access infrastructure?
► Extend MANs in Cork and Waterford
► Potential to build additional MANs in 5 towns
► Demand for Broadband
• Progress on eGovernment, eHealth, ICT in Schools etc.
Conclusions
► Ireland needs to be among the leaders in Europe in the provision of advanced telecommunications infrastructure, access and services by 2012
► Broadband speeds available are currently higher in other countries and take-up of fibre is growing rapidly
► Investments being made currently are necessary but are not sufficient to achieve a leadership position
► Competitiveness threat for Irish firms as significantly faster speeds become widespread in other countries?
► Role for State Provision of Access Infrastructure?
• Some countries have developed more active programmes to roll out next generation networks
Thank You
To view the full report see http://www.forfas.ie/publications/2010/title,5376,en.php