Paul Connell from Pure Telecom asks: If strengthened connectivity helps small businesses to compete with larger organisations, why is there such a slow uptake?
For many small businesses, it can often feel like you’re operating on the backfoot. Competing against larger firms who have deeper pockets, bigger teams, and greater access to capital can make the playing field seem permanently uneven. Yet, small businesses possess a distinct benefit: agility, paired with the same access to connectivity as their larger counterparts. So why aren’t more small businesses taking advantage of this?
Sometimes overlooked in terms of value, connectivity underpins not only our day-to-day operations but also every pathway to future growth. Despite its significance, adoption of fibre broadband by small businesses remains low. In late 2025, research from ComReg revealed that just 12% of Irish businesses are using a full fibre broadband connection, even though it is available to 81% of premises.
“Many small businesses are simply unaware that high-speed broadband is already available to them”
As a result, small businesses are not yet leveraging the very tools that make them competitive. Accelerating uptake would enable small businesses to close the digital gap and compete on more equal terms.
After all, small businesses are central to thriving communities and a robust society. Not only do they strengthen the local economy, but they build communities and inspire creativity and culture. They provide us with local produce, craftsmanship, professional services and so much more. With over 300,000 operating in Ireland, small businesses make up 99.8% of all enterprises here, making them vital to our economy and the social fabric of our communities.
Lagging connectivity stalls progress
For all of these businesses, whether they’re embracing e-commerce, attempting to reach new markets, conducting virtual meetings or even just digitising their physical files, their day-to-day operations are heavily reliant on internet access. Yet, all too often, lagging connectivity stalls progress.
Picture this: you’re a small business presenting an important pitch to a large client online. Your internet begins to lag, causing severe disruption to the flow of conversation. Your prospective client can no longer understand what you’re trying to say. You begin to panic and jump off the call for a ‘few minutes’ in a bid to fix your connection. You connect and reconnect, toggle the advanced settings and cross your fingers – but nothing works. You are forced to apologise and postpone the call, diminishing your chances of landing the sale.
This example reflects the true nature of what can happen when connectivity fails for small businesses: missed opportunities, slower growth, and lost revenue.
Situations such as this can be particularly damaging when compounded with the challenges small businesses already face. Inflation, rising energy costs, regulatory compliance, the removal of the de minimis exemption on goods under USD $800 exported to the US– there’s already a lot for small businesses to juggle and each new hurdle only adds to the load.
While the Government introduced measures in the 2026 budget to help small businesses – including enhanced entrepreneur relief and a reduction in VAT for some– little has been done to address the slow uptake of fibre broadband.
Barriers to progress
If strengthened connectivity helps small businesses to compete with larger organisations, why is there such a slow uptake? The answer is two-fold: a lack of awareness, and cost.
While National Broadband Ireland continues to roll-out the necessary infrastructure across the country and businesses continue to have access to commercial fibre networks, research suggests many small businesses are simply unaware that high-speed broadband is already available to them. In addition, they also may be unfamiliar with the advantages associated with fibre broadband – increased speeds, greater reliability, and enhanced support for multiple users.
The other barrier is cost. With small businesses often facing several competing challenges, issues are prioritised in terms of urgency. The prospect of investing further in connectivity can feel daunting when wages must be paid, bills settled, and energy costs managed. But small businesses who lack sufficient connectivity will risk falling behind – this much we know.
Cost and lack of awareness should not impact on a business’s decision to adopt fibre broadband. As a country, we must do more to support businesses in their journeys towards reliable, fast connectivity and provide greater awareness and education to those who need it.
Business owners also have a role to play – shop around, switch and save, and speak to your managed service provider or broadband supplier. They can guide you through the best options available to your business. By working collaboratively, we can ensure that no business gets left behind.
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