More than 450,000 premises now ready for fibre under the National Broadband Plan.
National Broadband Ireland has reported that more than 450,000 homes, farms and businesses are now ready to connect under the National Broadband Plan, as the programme moves into its final stages.
The update, covering the contract year to 31 January 2026, marks a significant milestone in what the Government has long viewed as one of the most complex infrastructure undertakings in the State.
“With the final phase of construction now underway, we are on track to complete the main rollout by the end of this year”
Speaking on the progress, Patrick O’Donovan, TD, Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, said the rollout demonstrated the scale of delivery that sustained investment can bring.
“Tens of thousands of kilometres of fibre have been laid, and communities right across the country are now seeing the tangible benefits of high-speed connectivity,” he said.
He added that the programme is “transforming rural Ireland” and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring even the most remote premises can take part in the digital economy.
Final delivery phase
NBI confirmed that all surveying and design work has been completed and that 82% of the network is now built.
The remaining 18% is under construction, with the main infrastructure build scheduled for completion this year. By the end of the contract year, 451,433 premises had been passed by the network infrastructure, a 33% increase over the previous year. Connections continue to grow, with 164,708 premises now live on the network, representing a 43% annual rise.
The fibre build has now reached 63,064km, a distance that the company noted would circle the planet one and a half times.
TJ Malone, NBI’s chief executive, said the results reflected the momentum behind the plan.
“With every part of the network now designed and either built or under construction, and over 450,000 premises ready to connect, we are firmly into the final delivery phase,” he said.
Malone said that more than 164,000 customers are already using high-speed fibre through the network, which he described as transformative for life and work in rural communities.
“With the final phase of construction now underway, we are on track to complete the main rollout by the end of this year,” he added.
The National Broadband Plan’s Intervention Area now covers 566,000 premises, an increase of roughly 29,000 since contract signing, reflecting updated mapping of locations where commercial operators have no plans to provide high-speed broadband.
Residents and businesses can check eligibility using the Eircode search tool on NBI’s website.
Demand for connections continues to grow, with take-up rates outpacing initial projections and international benchmarks, particularly in areas where the network has been live for longer.
NBI said its focus for the year ahead will be accelerating connections as construction concludes, ensuring that every eligible premises can access future-proofed broadband. The company will continue to provide updated delivery statistics on its website as the rollout enters its final stretch.
Top image: TJ Malone, Chief Executive Officer, NBI, and Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, TD. Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22
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