Bridget Joyce joins NBI high speed fibre broadband network, recounts days without electricity in rural Mayo in the 1960s

Almost 10,500 Mayo homes, farms and business can connect to high-speed broadband now

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) is making an investment of €145 million to ensure access for 37,000 Mayo homes, farms and businesses. The company was in town this week to meet with local woman Bridget Joyce who is connected to the NBI™ network.

With high-speed fibre broadband, Bridget stays connected with her local community from home. She enjoys simple pleasures in her daily life, such as reading the news online and watching Mass.

Born in Kilbride, Newport National Hospital in 1924, Bridget Joyce is the latest customer to connect to high-speed fibre broadband under the NBP. Bridget recalls days of her youth living in rural Mayo without electricity. She shares her memories of carrying paraffin oil from the nearby town back to her family home.

Local Mayo woman, Bridget Joyce, said: “We were living a long time with no electricity. I remember the days when we carried paraffin oil a mile from the town on our way to school and carried it home again. We did this until the 1960s when electricity finally came to our village.

“Now with fibre broadband, I can do so much from home. I would have never believed what could be done. I’m able to watch Mass and keep up with everything – all online. The Westnet team connected our home to NBI’s fibre network and even hooked up my iPad. It’s great to get that level of support.”

Bridget lives with her granddaughter, Fiona Hyland, who said: “Having fibre broadband in our home has done wonders for my granny. It keeps her engaged and her mind active. It has huge benefits – boosts her mood and prevents cognitive decline, especially if somebody is isolated socially and geographically. It really is her connection to the world.

“I use our broadband connection for online banking and Netflix. It’s massively beneficial to be able to use these services from the comfort of your own home.”

Minister Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, said: “It’s wonderful to see people like Bridget experiencing the benefits of high-speed fibre broadband delivered through NBI’s network. With a broadband connection, people living in the most remote areas can stay connected to their locality and the wider community.

“The Government is determined to ensure that everyone in Ireland, no matter where they live, can enjoy the advantages of high-speed broadband. The National Broadband Plan has made high-speed fibre broadband available to over 260,000 homes, farms and businesses across rural Ireland. As a result, Ireland is now a global leader in digital connectivity and is on target to reach the European Commission’s target of gigabit broadband for all by 2030.”

Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland said: “It’s encouraging to see people of all ages and walks of life benefitting from connecting to the NBI™ network. We often talk about the life-changing benefits that fibre broadband can deliver for people by connecting them to the rest of the world, but Bridget’s story demonstrates how important access to good quality internet can be for keeping us in touch with our local communities too. 

“Our rollout of the NBI™ network is showing real momentum and progress. The take-up of high-speed broadband on our network has been fantastic and we’re keen to continue to accelerate our rollout and bring the benefit of high-speed fibre broadband to more and more homes, businesses and farms.

“In Mayo we will connect 37,000 premises overall. Almost 10,500 of those are ready to connect now, including homes, businesses and farms in the rural surrounds of Castlebar, Ballina and Newport. I encourage people to visit the NBI website, nbi.ie, where they can check their Eircode and sign up for updates.”

David McDonnell, Chief Technical Officer, Westnet said: “It’s with great delight that Westnet comes together with NBI to honour a cherished member of the community who, at the incredible age of 100, has embraced the future of Internet connectivity by connecting to Westnet fibre broadband over the NBI™ network. This connection shows that Internet connectivity can enrich lives, no matter of age, keeping families connected and bringing communities closer together.”

Under the National Broadband Plan, over 564,000 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 or intending to provide access to high-speed broadband. 

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 72 RSPs have already signed up to sell services on the NBI™ network and 68 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.

Data as of 28.06.2024