Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Review 2018

Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Mr. Seán Canney TD, launched the “Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Review 2018” on Wednesday 20th February in the National Concert Hall in Dublin.

Ms Christine Collins, Longford County Council’s Broadband Officer was invited by the Dept of Rural and Community development as a guest speaker, to highlight and discuss some of the excellent work being completed by Longford County Council in relation to Broadband rollout and mobile voice and data coverage. One of only three invited speakers which also included , Mr. Jeremy Godfrey, Commissioner for Communications Regulation (Comreg) and Mayo County Council’s Digital Officer, Mr Stephen Carolan; Ms Collins outlined the recent Mobile coverage survey completed by the Council which highlighted a number of positives for the County in relation to coverage on all national primary roads in the County but also successfully led to the council working in partnership with a number of telecom operators and other stakeholders to address coverage issues highlighted in rural areas.

Ms Collins also discussed the Digital Schools initiative being undertaken by the Council’s IT Section and which is currently underway for all Primary Schools in the County. The initiative will help create awareness of the National Broadband Plan for children and their families for the area in which they live. Thus, ensuring student learning will go beyond the walls of the classrooms and start the conversation on the National Broadband Plan in all communities. It will also help all to understand the terms used in relation to the technologies and the services on offer from broadband providers in their area. The project was commended by all in attendance with the view to this Longford project been implemented nationally.