Ireland needs a five-year roadmap to remove barriers to the rollout of next-generation communication networks at local and national level, while a co-ordinated approach is essential to ensure the country does not miss the significant economic potential associated with 5G.
A discussion document, '5G and Future Connectivity: An Emerging Framework for Irish Cities and Towns', published by Dublin City Council, Sligo County Council and the CONNECT research centre, warns that the absence of a roadmap for national connectivity risks eroding Ireland’s economic competitiveness. It calls for the establishment of a national working group to address this.
Stronger alignment at local and national levels
The document draws on findings from an online survey of telecoms vendors, mobile operators, and local authority broadband officers. It makes a number of recommendations calling for stronger alignment at local and national levels.
Dr Brendan Jennings, interim director of CONNECT, said: “The economic opportunity associated with 5G and next-generation networks is well documented: the global impact in goods and services is expected to reach $12 trillion by 2035.
“A much more co-ordinated approach is needed if all regions in Ireland are to capitalise on this. The economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic make this all the more urgent.
“The document recommends the establishment of a National Working Group to shape a shared vision for connectivity in Ireland. It should be composed of key stakeholders: government departments, local authorities, mobile operators, equipment vendors, the research community and bodies like IBEC, ESB Networks, ComReg and the EPA."
Jamie Cudden, smart city lead at Dublin City Council, said: “Local authorities, in particular, will play a vital role in Ireland’s path to 5G, so collaboration and engagement between councils and mobile operators will be essential to facilitate a sustainable rollout.
“For instance, the challenge of accessing power in an affordable manner is a make or break issue for future deployment of 5G. There needs to be continuous communication with ESB Networks via the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to resolve unmetered power issues for the installation of small cells on unmetered supply.
Database of assets
“There is also a need to build a database of assets such as street furniture, ducting, and streetlights, and assess their suitability for use in 5G deployments. Other issues such as the issuing of section 254 licences for delivery of new mobile sites or equipment installs such as small cells must also be addressed."
Nigel Carter, digital innovation lead, Sligo County Council, said: “We hope the document stimulates debate and discussion among stakeholders to ensure that Ireland realises its connectivity potential and remains a highly competitive economy.
“In addition, it is critically important that safety monitoring continues and the latest scientific guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is communicated clearly.”
The discussion document was funded and supported by the Digital Innovation Programme of the then Department of Rural and Community Development. Preparation of the document was led by the Smart City team at Dublin City Council in collaboration with leading telecoms experts, Sligo County Council and CONNECT.