Consultation on International Connectivity for Telecommunications

The full, redacted version of the Pelagian Capacity Analysis and Intervention Report has now been added to the consultation page.

The purpose of this consultation is to invite all interested parties to contribute their views on the status of international connectivity for telecommunications in Ireland. This consultation is primarily aimed at telecommunications service providers and large volume users of international links (including content providers and data centre owners).

The evidence gathered through this consultation will be used to inform policy development and decision making, including validating existing information; gaining new insight into the market for interconnectivity; and seeking feedback on the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC)’s proposals.

Ireland’s economy and society are increasingly reliant on the functioning of high quality, secure and reliable international connectivity to connect to the global backbone of the Internet. Submarine fibre optic cables, or subsea cables, are among the most important components of the Internet’s infrastructure, carrying 99% of all international telecommunications traffic for personal, business, and government use.

The consultation document below provides an executive summary to the topic and presents the summary findings from DECC’s Assessment in 2023. In response to the risks and barriers to subsea cable development, DECC has developed a number of proposals that are described in the document. There are ten specific questions posed that seek to gain a better understanding of the market as a whole, as well as to gain more insight at individual cable system and firm level.

Parties responding to this consultation are asked to answer the questions outlined in the consultation document and indicate anything that is confidential. After the Department has gathered the responses, it will consider the inputs received before publishing the non-confidential responses and overall conclusions.

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on Friday, 19 July 2024

You can send your submission by email to IntComms@decc.gov.ie or by post to:

International Connectivity - Strategy Development

Business Management Division,

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications,

Tom Johnson House,

Haddington Road,

Beggar’s Bush,

D04 K7X4

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final versions of the policy.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• the Data Protection Act 2018

Publishing of responses

We intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.

Please indicate any sensitive information

In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:

• personal information
• commercially sensitive information
• confidential information

Read our Data Privacy Notice

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains:

• how and when we collect personal data
• why we do so
• how we treat this information
• your rights in relation to the collection of personal information
• how you can exercise those rights