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Last night I talked to one of Goldman Sachs finest ever telecoms bankers. He felt Ireland’s broadband tendering process was “made to order”. In other words it was shaped from the start by a single bidder for that single bidder to win.
He’d seen this type of made-to order-process a few times in developing world. But not recently. Normally, even in rigged situations, the bidder would pay the state something for a license to operate rural broadband, then borrow against future earnings to build the infrastructure.
But what @FineGael has done was “unusual” perhaps “a world first”. Ireland is a relatively small landmass so providing lightening fast broadband country wide using current technology is now relatively easy and cheap, compared to say stretches of rural America. <12 month roll out
This is reflected in how other countries across Europe are and have approached rural broadband. Ireland is an “odd anomaly” in that regard.
Again he said “the made to order” nature of the NBP was not about the best tech or service, but more about how best to transfer as much money to the bidder. It would be nearly impossible to assume anything else.
The lack of concern over breaches during the process, and competitiveness of the process, were indicative of a “made to order” process. Other initial bidders likely realized this early on but had nothing to gain then or now by saying so publicly.
However that said he felt a defense for politicians to do what @FineGael have done was if the bidder had enough dirt on those politicians to end their careers or ruin brand of party indefinitely. That was at least the pattern he’d observed on occasion in developing world
He felt it was important to rationalize the decision in Ireland. Politicians are rarely stupid, and rarely on the breadline. So don’t assume idiocy or bribery. Self preservation and legacy often are the driving forces in these situations. As such understandable but infuriating
But sure who really knows? Something smells off though.
