Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD: Enhancing our digital connectivity to global networks
Ireland is a strong supporter of the European Union’s plans to improve telecommunications links between EU countries and with other regions, writes Minister of State Ossian Smyth.
As a high-tech country on the western edge of Europe, Ireland stands to both contribute to and benefit from these improvements.
Our National Development Plan (2021-2030) and Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework stress the need for strong, secure, and reliable connections to global networks. Ireland’s Digital Connectivity Strategy highlights the importance of ensuring our international connections are reliable and capable of handling future needs. When Ireland signed the Declaration on European Data Gateways, we joined other EU countries in committing to strengthen digital links between Europe and regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
“The EU wants to improve its undersea cable infrastructure to reduce dependence on non-EU entities.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth TD
Ireland currently has 14 undersea cables connecting us to the global network, with four links to North America, one to Iceland, and the rest to the UK. Since the UK left the EU, we no longer have a direct connection to other EU countries, which the Government sees as a priority issue. Building more routes can make our system more robust and less vulnerable to disruptions.
A future challenge will be ensuring we have enough capacity to meet the growing demand for internet services. The rise in digital activities like streaming and new technologies means we need more capacity. Building these undersea cables takes years, so investments must be made well in advance.
The EU wants to improve its undersea cable infrastructure to reduce dependence on non-EU entities. To this end, it recommends ensuring that each cable route has at least two cables as a backup. The EU has also encouraged speeding up the approval process for new cable projects.
The Irish Government has been working to encourage investment in both national and international subsea telecommunications. Three Irish-supported projects were recently selected to receive €36 million in EU grant funding. These projects will strengthen Ireland’s connections to northern and southern Europe and explore better connectivity for Ireland’s islands.
Despite these positive developments, investors face challenges such as costs, planning processes, and supply chain issues. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has reviewed the state of Ireland’s international telecommunications connections and proposed ways to overcome these challenges. Feedback from a public consultation earlier in 2024 will help inform government decisions on how to proceed.
Ireland’s location makes it an ideal hub for connecting North America, Europe, and even the Far East, with links that could extend to Africa and Latin America. This positioning gives Ireland an excellent opportunity to improve global connectivity, benefiting Ireland and the countries it connects with.
Building a strong, secure, and reliable telecommunications network is critical for Ireland’s future. By improving our connections, we will be well-positioned to thrive in the digital age, ensuring economic growth and social benefits for years to come.
