Over 3,700 Offaly homes and businesses now connected to the NBI broadband network
A further 987 Offaly premises will soon avail of a fibre connection through the NBI network
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the new future-proofed, high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) on behalf of the Government, has announced that over 3,700 homes, businesses and farms in Offaly have now connected to the NBI network™.
There are now 11,556 premises that can now pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband across Offaly with 3,763 connections made to date. A further 987 Offaly homes and businesses are on track to avail of a fibre broadband connection by the end of May. Works have been completed in most rural areas across the county, including those near Birr and Edenderry.
National Broadband Ireland is encouraging all Offaly residents to visit nbi.ie and check their Eircode to see if they’re ready to connect and find out more about placing an order.
NBI’s fibre broadband rollout under the National Broadband Plan is delivering broadband services to what is known as the State’s Intervention Area, which includes the most remote and rural parts of Ireland where commercial operators have no plans to deliver high-speed broadband. The Intervention Area currently includes 13,000 premises in Offaly, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools across the county. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Co Offaly will receive €48m of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan.
TJ Malone, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: “We are delighted to announce that over 3,700 Offaly homes, businesses and farms are now connected to the NBI network™. Those connected are experiencing the life-changing benefits of high-speed fibre broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second.
“With the national switch-off of the copper network approaching, NBI’s fibre network will ensure communities across Ireland are prepared for the future by supporting remote working, education, healthcare access, and local enterprise while providing the reliability needed for everyday living.”
“As we enter the final year of the National Broadband Plan rollout, we’re encouraging everyone in Offaly to check their Eircode on nbi.ie and order now to secure high-speed fibre broadband for their home or business.”
National Rollout Progress
NBI has now passed over 475,000 homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland to high-speed broadband with over 175,000 now connected. The average take-up rate of 37% is well ahead of projections and international comparisons and surpasses 60% in some areas of the country where the network has been live for 18 months.
The National Broadband Ireland website is regularly updated to show estimated completion dates. With the main rollout due to be concluded by the end of this year, the remaining homes and businesses yet to be passed will be able to place an order for high-speed broadband in the coming months. The easiest way to get updates on when a premises will be ready to order is by signing up for NBI email alerts at nbi.ie.
As fibre networks expand across Ireland, offering superior speed, capacity, and reliability, older copper telephone and broadband infrastructure will start to be decommissioned. The European Commission has proposed 2030 as the latest date for the decommissioning of legacy copper networks.
READ NEXT: Offaly Olympian Gráinne Walsh to help shape future policy at European Parliament conference
Choosing a Broadband Provider
As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers or Retail Service Providers (RSPs). As a wholesale provider, NBI will make the new Fibre-to-the-Home network available to all RSPs operating in the Intervention Area.
Over 50 RSPs are available on the NBI network™ to provide connections as of today. To see the retail broadband providers that are currently on the NBI network™, visit nbi.ie.
Keep up to Speed!
NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates at nbi.ie to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progress in their area.
About NBI
National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is delivering and operating the new high-speed fibre broadband network for rural Ireland. NBI is now transitioning from large-scale build to the long-term operation and ongoing management of the new national broadband network, known as the NBI network™, ensuring a secure, resilient and high-quality broadband service for homes, farms and businesses across rural Ireland.
The NBI network™ operates on an open-access, wholesale basis, supporting a competitive retail broadband market. Over 50 broadband providers actively sell on the network currently and NBI will continue to facilitate end user connections to their network over the term of the contract, with take up of c. 80% anticipated.
NBI’s team brings together some of the most talented individuals in Ireland and across the world, with deep knowledge and experience in delivering projects to the scale of the National Broadband Plan (NBP). This includes developing, building, and operating networks and coordinating all the elements required to finance and deliver a project of the size and complexity of Ireland’s NBP, one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken by the State.
NBI was established by Granahan McCourt, an international investor in technology, media and telecommunications. For over 35 years, Granahan McCourt has partnered with Governments, corporations and communities to connect people through innovation in technologically underserved areas of the world.
NBI is contracted for the management of the new network for at least the next 20 years.
Broadband Connection Points
In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home rollout, the NBP provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. 955 of these sites, including Public BCPs, are now ‘live’. Public BCPs – which include sports clubs, community centres and tourist sites – will provide free public access to high-speed internet in the rollout area. Other BCP categories include schools and marts.
BCPs will pave the way for rural communities to receive the benefits of broadband, from mobile working, e-learning and mobile banking, to digital tourism. You can view BCPs at nbi.ie.