The Irish Government published the Digital Connectivity Strategy for Ireland in 2022. This includes a commitment that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a network which supports Gigabit speeds no later than 2028 and that all populated areas will be covered by 5G by no later than 2030. The benefits from implementation of this strategy would boost labour productivity by nearly €59 billion by 2025, enable half a million more people to access employment as well as facilitating 400,000 more people to be able to work remotely from home.
To achieve the targets set out in the Digital Connectivity Strategy, significant investment is being made by a range of commercial fixed line and mobile telecoms operators to both upgrade existing infrastructure nationwide, as well building out new infrastructure as required. Fibre networks are key and eir is making a significant investment in the build out of their fibre network, including upgrading exchanges to support the advanced services.
Eir has committed to rolling out its Gigabit Broadband network, to 1.9 million homes and businesses in Ireland, by the end of 2026. The Department understands that network upgrade to 1.9 million homes and businesses includes enabling Gigabit connectivity to smaller telephone exchanges in rural communities.
Additionally, the State is investing €2.7 billion in the building of a fibre broadband network by National Broadband Ireland in what is known as the ‘Intervention Area’. The 'Intervention Area' covers homes and businesses in designated geographical areas throughout the State, typically rural and lower population density areas, where commercial operators do not plan to build a fibre network. The National Broadband Ireland network is utilising modern fibre to the home technology (FTTH), in which a physical fibre is run to each premises to provide high speed broadband services. To achieve the timing and financial targets for the build of this new fibre network, National Broadband Ireland will leverage where available existing infrastructure, including local metropolitan networks and eir infrastructure.
Consumers can avail of both broadband and voice services over fibre networks.
