Communications Minister Eamon Ryan opened the International Advisory Forum on Next Generation Broadband in Dublin today. The Minister convened the Forum of telecoms experts to advise on the optimum role of Government in the development of Next Generation Broadband in Ireland.
The Forum will critique the policy paper drafted by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which sets out the issues around and proposes recommendations on Next Generation roll out. After incorporating the output of the Forum, Minister Ryan intends to publish the paper in the coming weeks, for consultation with stakeholders.
Minister Ryan said: “We are still not where we want to be on broadband, but we’re making significant progress. It is important that we have a policy that is robust and evidence-based to guide the evolution to Next Generation Broadband in Ireland. The National Broadband Scheme will address the final areas where availability is lacking. The challenges now are speeds and price. I am pleased that this panel of international experts with their varied policy and technical expertise have assembled to provide their advice so that we can achieve our broadband ambitions.
The provision of faster and cheaper broadband all over Ireland is priority of Government. I am confident that we can and will meet the bandwidth challenge and that the private sector and the State, each in its own way, will continue to drive forward with an ambitious broadband vision. This Forum will help get us there.”
The Forum members are:
· Mr. Kenneth R. Carter, Senior Consultant, wik-Consult GmbH, Germany
Kenneth Carter is a Senior Consultant at wik-Consult GmbH, based in Germany, where he is a key member of the firm's NGN and Internet Economics Department. He is an attorney, a technologist, and a communications business analyst. Mr. Carter was previously Senior Counsel for Business and Economics in the Office of Planning and Policy Analysis at the Federal Communications Commission (US).
· Mr. Martin Cronin, CEO, Forfás
Martin Cronin, is Chief Executive Officer of Forfás, a role he was appointed to in May 2002. He is a member of the National Competitiveness Council, the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Higher Education Authority, the Management Board of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Board of the Tyndall National Institute. Cronin was Director of Operations in IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for the promotion of Foreign Direct Investment into Ireland, from 1994 until 2002.
· Ms. Isolde Goggin, Independent Consultant, Former Chair of ComReg
Isolde was Chairperson of Ireland’s Commission for Communications Regulation from 2004 to 2006, and Commissioner from 2002 to 2004. She now works as an independent telecommunications and regulatory affairs consultant. She is a member of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland.
· Dr. Michael Nelson, Senior Professor, Georgetown University, USA
Mike Nelson is currently Visiting Professor of Internet Studies in Georgetown University's Communication, Culture, and Technology Program. Prior to this Nelson was Director of Internet Technology and Strategy at IBM. He has also served as Director for Technology Policy at the Federal Communications Commission (US) and as Special Assistant for Information Technology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he worked with Vice President Al Gore on telecommunications policy.
· Dr. Frank Sanda, CEO, Japan Communications Inc.
Frank Sanda founded Japan Communications Inc in 1996 and is now CEO of the company. Prior to this, he served as CEO of Apple Computer Japan and Vice President and General Manager at Motorola Inc. Sanda also has extensive experience in finance, having held senior positions at Citibank and Merrill Lynch in the United States.
· Mr. Anthony Shortall, Economic Advisor, European Commission
Tony Shortall is an economic advisor within the European Commission, DG Information Society and Media and has worked with the EU Member States on the implementation of the EU Regulatory Framework. He was the senior economist at the Irish Competition Authority dealing with network industries between 1997 and 1999
· Mr. H. Brian Thompson, Executive Chairman, Global Telecom & Technology
H. Brian Thompson is Executive Chairman of Global Telecom & Technology (GTT), a Multi-Network Operator (MNO). He has previously served as Chairman of both the Advisory Committee for Telecommunications and, more recently, the Advisory Committee on Infocoms, (two committees established by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources) and has extensive experience in the global telecommunications sector.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Press Office:
Tel. 01 6782441
Fax. 01 – 6782739
press.office@dcenr.gov.ie
Fóram Comhairleach Idirnáisiúnta um Leathanbhanda arna oscailt ag an Aire Ó Riain
Baile Átha Cliath, 27ú Feabhra 2008
D’oscail an tAire um fhuinneamh, Éamonn Ó Riain, an Fóram Comhairleach Idirnáisiúnta um an Chéad Glúin Eile Leathanbhanda in Éirinn inniu. Thionól an tAire Fóram seo na saineolaithe teileachumarsáide d’fhonn comhairle a lorg uathu ar an gnó is fearr don rialtas um an chéad glúin eile leathanbhanda in Éirinn a fhorbairt.
Déanfaidh an Fóram grinn-léirmheas ar pháipéar beartais a dhréachtaigh an Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, páipéar a leagann amach na ceisteanna a eascraíonn as an chéad glúin eile leathanbhanda agus a chuireann ar aghaidh moltaí dá eisrothlú. Tar éis dó toradh an Fhóraim a chur i bhfeidhm ar an bpáipéar tá i gceist ag an Aire é a fhoilsiú i gceann seachtainí beaga chun dul gcomhairle le páirtithe leasmhara.
Arsa an tAire: “Níl an sprioc atá uainn i leith leathanbhanda sroichte againn fós ach tá dul chun cinn suntasach á dhéanamh againn. Baineann tábhacht le beartas a bheith againn atá bríomhar agus é bunaithe ar an bhfianaise chun teacht chun cinn an chéad glúin eile leathanbhanda in Éirinn a threorú. Tabharfaidh an Scéim Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda faoi na ceantracha deireanacha nach bhfuil fáil ar leathanbhanda iontu. Is iad na dúshláin anois ná luasanna agus praghas. Is mór liom go bhfuil an painéal saineolaithe idirnáisiúnta seo, agus réimse a gcuid saineolas agus a gcuid taithí teicniúla, tagtha le céile d’fhonn a gcuid comhairle a chur faoi ár n-uaillmhian um leathanbhanda a bhaint amach.
“Is tosaíocht de chuid an rialtais seirbhís leathanbhanda níos mire agus níos saoire a sholáthar ar fud na hÉireann. Creidim gur féidir linn agus go n-éireoidh linn dúshlán an bhandaleithid a fhreagairt agus go n-éireoidh leis an earnáil phríobháideach agus leis an Stát, gach ceann acu ar a chonlán féin, leanúint orthu ag tiomáint chun tosaigh agus fís leathanbhanda uaillmhianach acu. Cabhróidh an Fóram linn ár spriocanna a aimsiú.”
Is iad baill an Fhóraim:
An tUasal Kenneth R Carter, Comhairleoir Sinsearach, wik-Consult GmbH, an Ghearmáin
Is comhairleoir sinsearach é Kenneth Carter le gnólacht wik-Consult GmbH na Gearmáine, áit ar ball tábhachtach é de rannán na gnólachta sin um Líonraí den Chéad Glúin Eile agus um Eacnamaíocht an Idirlín. Aturnae, teicneolaí agus anailísí gnó na teileachumarsáide atá ann. Roimhe seo bhí sé mar Chomhairleoir Sinsearach um Chúrsaí Gnó agus Eacnamaíochta san oifig um iniúchadh pleanála agus beartas (Office of Planning and Policy Analysis) de chuid coimisiún cumarsáide feidearálach na Stát Aontaithe (Federal Communications Commission).
An tUasal Martin Cronin, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Forfás
Ceapadh Martin Cronin mar Príomhfheidhmeannach ar Fhorfás i mBealtaine na 2002. Is ball é den Chomhairle Náisiúnta um Iomaíochas, den Chomhairle Comhairleach um Eolaíocht, Theicneolaíocht agus Nuálaíocht, den Údarás um Ard-Oideachas, de Bhord Bainistíochta an Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta agus de Bhord an Fhoras Náisiúnta Tyndall. Bhí an tUasal Cronin mar Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí de chuid IDA Ireland, an ghníomhaireacht atá freagrach as infheistiú díreach ón choigríoch chun na hÉireann, ón 1994 go dtí an 2002.
Isolde Uasal Goggin, Comhairleoir Neamhspleách, iar-Chathaoirleach ChomReg.
Bhí Isolde Goggin mar chathaoirleach di ar an gCoimisiún um Rialáil Cumarsáide (ComReg) ón 2004 go dtí an 2006 agus mar Choimisinéir 2002-2004. Oibríonn sí anois mar chomhairleoir neamhspleách i leith cúrsaí teileachumarsáide agus rialála. Is ball í den Choiste Comhairleach ag Oifig Cumarsáide Thuaisceart Éireann (Ofcom).
An Dr Michael Nelson, Ollamh Sinsearach, Ollscoil Georgetown, SAM
Tá Mike Nelson mar Ollamh Cuarda um Staidéir Idirlín i gclár cumarsáide, cultúrtha agus teicneolaíochta de chuid Ollscoil Georgetown. Roimhe seo bhí an tUasal Nelson mar Stiúrthóir um Theicneolaíocht Idirlín agus Straitéis de chuid gnólacht IBM. Thairis sin bhíodh sé mar Stiúrthóir Teicneolaíochta ag coimisiún cumarsáide feidearálach na Stát Aontaithe agus mar Chúntóir Speisialta um Theicneolaíocht an Eolais in Oifig Beartas Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta an Tí Bháin áit a chomhoibrigh sé le leas-Uachtarán Al Gore i leith beartas teileachumarsáide.
An Dr Frank Sanda, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Japan Communication Inc.
Do bhunaigh Frank Sanda an gnólacht Japan Communications Inc. san 1996 agus tá se mar Phríomhfheidhmeannach ar faoi láthair. Roimhe sin bhíodh sé mar Príomhfheidhmeannach ar Apple Computer Japan agus mar leas-Uachtarán agus Bainisteoir Ginearálta ar Mhotorola Inc. Tá taithí fhairsing ag an Uasal Sanda i gcúrsaí airgeadais ón a shaothar i bpoist sinsearacha le Citibank agus le Merrill Lynch sna Stáit Aontaithe.
An tUasal Anthony Shortall, Comhairleoir Eacnamaíochta, Coimisiún na hEorpa
Is comhairleoir eacnamaíochta Tony Shortall san Stiúrthóireacht Ginearálta de Choimisiún na hEorpa um Shochaí an Eolais agus um na Meáin agus shaothraigh sé le ballstáit an AE faoi cur i bhfeidhm Creat Rialála an AE. Dob é an tEacnamaí Sinsearach ag déileáil leis na tionscail líonra ag Údarás Iomaíochta na hÉireann idir 1997 agus 1999.
An tUasal H. Brian Thompson, Cathaoirleach Feidhmeach, Global Telecom & Technology
Is é H. Brian Thompson Cathaoirleach Feidhmeach na gnólachta Global Telecom & Technology (GTT), gnólacht atá ina hoibrí il-líonra. Roimhe seo bhíodh sé mar cathaoirleach ar an gCoiste Comhairleach um Theileachumarsáid agus, níos déanaí, ar an gCoiste Comhairleach um Eolas agus Chumarsáid (dhá choiste iad a bhunaigh an Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha) agus tá mór-thaithí aige san earnáil teileachumarsáide domhanda.
CRÍOCH