More than 400,000 rural premises now passed under Ireland’s National Broadband Plan, with full rollout expected next year and take-up rates nearing 60%.
More than 400,000 homes, farms and businesses across rural Ireland can now access high-speed fibre broadband, according to National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company tasked with delivering the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The milestone, reached ahead of schedule, puts NBI on course to exceed its 2025 target of 420,000 premises passed, with the full rollout expected to conclude next year.
“Even the most remote parts of our country now have the opportunity to sustain local businesses, educate their children, and preserve a way of life in a modern, connected world”
The accelerated progress follows a decision earlier this year to bring forward delivery to an additional 65,000 premises, expanding access to communities previously underserved by digital infrastructure.
Fibre momentum
TJ Malone, chief executive of NBI, said the achievement marked a significant moment in the rollout.
“Passing 400,000 premises marks another major step forward in the delivery of the National Broadband Plan. Every week, thousands more premises are being made ready for service, and the level of interest and demand we’re seeing is remarkable,” he said.
“As the rollout progresses, the full potential of a connected rural Ireland is becoming increasingly clear.”
The network is already delivering tangible results, with over 140,000 premises connected and take-up rates averaging 35 per cent. In areas where the service has been available longest, such as Athlone, Castlebar and Emyvale, uptake is approaching 60 per cent. Fibre broadband is also available to order on 19 of the 27 islands included in the rollout, including Achill Island, where connections began in June.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, described the initiative as transformative.
“The advent of rural broadband has been truly transformative, not only bridging the digital divide, but also breathing new life into once isolated communities,” he said.
“Even the most remote parts of our country now have the opportunity to sustain local businesses, educate their children, and preserve a way of life in a modern, connected world.”
The NBP aims to connect every premises within the State’s Intervention Area, which now includes 564,000 locations, up from 537,000 at the time of contract award. All surveying work has been completed, and the remaining premises are now in the construction phase.
There are currently 955 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) live across the country, including 672 in schools. More than 50 broadband providers are offering services on NBI’s open-access network, giving rural customers access to competitive pricing and bundled packages comparable to those available in urban areas.
Independent research has highlighted the plan’s impact on quality of life, access to services and digital capacity for rural businesses, reinforcing its role as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the history of the State.
Progress update:
- The number of premises passed, and which can connect to NBI’s fibre network is 400,147.
- 140,592 premises are already connected.
- The average take-rate is 35%. Take-up is approaching 60% where services have been available for longer.
- 100% of surveying works are complete, and all remaining premises are now in the construction phase.
- 955 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) have been installed and are live with 672 of these in schools.
- A high-speed broadband connection through NBI is available for order on 19 of the 27 islands included in the rollout. The remaining 8 islands are in various stages of survey and design works.
Image at top: TJ Malone, CEO, National Broadband Ireland
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