When Covid hit, broadband critics saw what was at stake - NBI chief executive says State's 2.6bn subsidy was money well spent

"TJ Malone says for too long the rollout was a 'political football' A few short years ago, the National Broadband Plan (NBP) was one of the most fiercely debated news topics in the country. Arguments raged daily: did the country need it? Was the State's €2.6bn subsidy value for money? Was the right technology being used for it? Was the procurement process flawed?"

"'political football'"

A few short years ago the National Broadband Plan rollout became a focal point of intense national debate. Questions centered on whether the country required the plan and whether the State's €2.6bn subsidy represented value for money. Stakeholders also questioned the choice of technology and whether the procurement process was flawed. Arguments about these issues occurred daily and framed public attention. The characterization of the rollout as a 'political football' reflected perceptions that political contention, rather than technical or economic assessment, dominated the implementation and public dialogue surrounding broadband policy during that period.

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