A number of private sector broadband infrastructure projects were co-funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The ESB fibre wrap project consisted of the creation of a 1,300 kilometre optic fibre trunk network along the main electricity transmission grid, using the cables to carry the fibre. The network extends in two loops, the southern loop serving counties Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Wicklow, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Tipperary, while the northern loop passes through Clare, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath and also extends as far as Buncrana in County Donegal. The total eligible expenditure on the fibre wrap project was €45,913,609, and the grant paid was €14,878,582.
Esat BT completed a number of projects under the previous National Development Plan 1994-1999, including the rollout of national and urban fibre networks and the construction of a high capacity digital corridor linking Dublin, Athlone, Galway and Shannon, serving 30 locations en route. Total investment in these projects amounted to €27,880,000 and grant funding was €9,229,973. Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the company upgraded its digital link from Cork to Clonakilty and enabled 40 telephone exchanges for delivery of broadband by digital subscriber lines, DSL, at a total cost of €14,287,848. The grant paid was €4,109,114.
The grant agreement with Eircom provided for upgrades to telephone exchanges for the provision of DSL services. Some 14 exchanges were enabled, at a total eligible expenditure of €3,694,502. The grant paid was €1,369,772. All of these projects were completed in 2003.