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 the first premises in the Laois Deployment Area have been successfully connected.
Up to 12,632 premises in County Laois are included in the State’s Intervention Area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms and schools. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, the County will receive €49 million of Government investment under the NBP.
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.
Some 55 RSPs have already signed up to sell services on the NBI network and 41 are certified as ready to start providing connections as of today. To see the retail broadband providers that are currently licensed to sell on the NBI™ network, visit NBI.ie/buy
Peter Hendrick, CEO of National Broadband Ireland, said: “National Broadband Ireland is delighted to be able to say that we have now commenced our first connections in Laois, which will enable users to experience the life-changing benefits that high-speed broadband provides. This is a key milestone for this intervention area.”
“As an increasing number of homes and businesses are being connected, we are confident that the rollout will continue to gather pace as we look to connect thousands more homes and businesses. We are acutely aware that people want access to high-speed broadband and our goal is to deliver that as quickly as possible.”
Minister of State at the Department of Finance and Laois TD Seán Fleming commented: “I am delighted to see homes and business in Laois now being connected to the new fibre network. Almost 600 premises can already place orders and get connected now. I am also informed by NBI that over 50% of the new fibre network in the county will be built by next summer, meaning more than 6,600 premises in County Laois will then be able to get high-speed full fibre broadband. This will change the nature of working for many people and significantly improve people’s quality of life.”
Amanda Wade, Head of Customer Value Management at Sky Ireland – the Retail Service Provider selling services on the new fibre network in the area – said: “The new connection to high-speed fibre broadband under the National Broadband Plan is going to bring significant benefits to people across Laois. We are delighted to work with NBI to connect our customers as part of the National Broadband Plan. We are already receiving really positive feedback from our customers across the county, who are now experiencing the benefits of high-speed fibre broadband.”
Arthur Rainbow, one of the first customers in the Laois Deployment Area to be connected to the NBI network said: “Myself and my family were delighted for our home to be connected to high-speed broadband by NBI. It has been a significant positive development for us all. It has also allowed our family to experience a variety of advantages including leisure activities such as streaming.”
Antoinette Brennan, Broadband Officer for Laois County Council, said: “Laois County Council welcomes NBI’s delivery of fibre infrastructure in the intervention areas of County Laois. We are delighted that the first wave of local people & businesses in the Laois Deployment Area can now benefit from a connection to high-speed broadband via the National Broadband Plan. This development will bring a variety of new and exciting opportunities to people in the area and we look forward to this connectivity rolling out county-wide.”
NBI contractors have been on the ground since January 2020 surveying townlands across the county. This involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area, and enables design solutions for the provision of the fibre network.
Under the National Broadband Plan, 554,000 premises nationwide are included in the Intervention Area, which was established by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to identify areas where commercial operators are not currently providing access to high-speed broadband or do not intend to.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs)
In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home rollout, the NBP provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. 574 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 /bcp-map/. An example of some of the locations of Broadband Connection Points in Laois include Shanganamore Community Centre, Donaghmore Workhouse and Agriculture Museum, Vicarstown Community Centre, Oisin House, Rossmore and Emo ‘Old School’ Community Centre. Primary schools in the Intervention Area are also being connected for educational access as part of the NBP.
Keep up to Speed!
NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates at www.nbi.ie to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progresses in their area.
