📋 Tender Overview
The National Broadband Plan NBP is the governments initiative to deliver high-speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. Under the NBP National Broadband Ireland NBI was contracted to build and deliver high-speed broadband to 1.1 million people living and working in over 560000 premises within the State Intervention Area.The project has a revised target taking account of COVID delays of 102000 premises to be passed by the end of January 2023. It is on track to achieve this target with over 91300 premises passed to date.In July 2022 NBI informed me as Minister of its intention to initiate a change in ownership. In line with the National Broadband Plan contract my department carried out the required processes and due diligence. In October 2022 I subsequently granted consent for NBIs proposed change of ownership.Today I welcome the announcement by NBI that this change of ownership has concluded. Asterion Industrial Partners has acquired an 80 share of the company in a deal that will bring about several positive outcomes.Firstly the involvement of a long-term international investor with deep experience in large-scale infrastructure projects will strengthen the resources expertise and vendors available to NBI adding significant value to their operations in Ireland. Secondly this acquisition is a vote of confidence in the success of the project the continued roll-out by NBI and the governments commitment to create a sustainable and digitally connected economy.The National Broadband Plan is enabling thousands of households communities and businesses to embrace digital opportunities and reap the future benefits that will arise from ensuring that all premises across Ireland have access to a high-speed broadband network regardless of whether they are in an urban or rural environment.Finally under the National Broadband Plan contract the State will also benefit from this transaction by recovering a percentage of the sale as a clawback which I understand from NBI will see some 42.7 million returned to the Exchequer as a result of this acquisition.I look forward to continuing our work with NBI and now Asterion.
