Another boost for rural Ireland as ultra-fast speeds available in NBP rollout area

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) today announced the scheduled launch of a cutting-edge 5 Gbit/s broadband offering, marking another milestone in the evolution of rural Ireland’s digital infrastructure. 

With download speeds currently ranging from 500 Mbit/s to 2 Gbit/s, NBI is already delivering some of the fastest broadband services available in Ireland; however, the wholesale network operator, announced plans to further enhance its offering by notifying Broadband Providers of the upcoming launch of a 5 Gbit/s fibre broadband product.

This next-generation capacity will deliver ultra-fast, reliable connectivity to premises in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) rollout area, accelerating economic growth, innovation, and social inclusion.

This product launch sees more than a doubling its current top speed and positions users of the NBI Network as those capable of accessing some of the fastest broadband speeds globally. 

Key Highlights

• Rural Ireland: Prioritising rural and underserved areas, the 5 Gbit/s product will be available to any premise in the National Broadband Plan rollout area. Residents and businesses can check eligibility via the NBI website (www.nbi.ie) by entering their Eircode.

• Partnerships for Progress: Collaborating with over 50 different broadband providers who offer internet services over the NBI Network empowers users to choose a solution and a competitive price-point that is right for them.

• Product Specs:  This product includes differentiated upload speeds with a 5 Gbit/s / 500 Mbit/s (download / upload) offering for businesses including SME’s, with a 5 Gbit/s / 250 Mbit/s (download / upload) offering aimed at residential users. 

• Use Cases: Applications of 5 Gig broadband services extends across many premises, from individual consumers using high-speed internet at home, through complex industry-specific environments requiring ultra-reliable and low-latency. Ideal for high-demand online activities such as 4K/8K streaming, online gaming, large data file transfers, remote work, accessing cloud services, IoT applications, AI driven start-ups, and supporting multiple smart devices simultaneously without lag. 

T.J. Malone, Chief Executive Officer of National Broadband Ireland, stated: “NBI’s 5 Gig service isn’t just about speed, it’s about unlocking potential of virtually every sector in the country. From farmers using precision agriculture to students accessing virtual classrooms, this offering will help redefine what’s possible for every home, school, farm, business and indeed community in our rollout area.”

Commenting on the forthcoming launch, Joe Lavin, Chief Commercial Officer of National Broadband Ireland, said: “When you look at consumer trends, whether that be smart TV adoption, 4K or higher broadcasting, the proliferation of connected home devices, as well as in-home IoT medical care applications, it’s easy to understand why data usage is increasing. In response to those trends and to support our customers – broadband providers – in delivering an even better experience for users on the NBI Network, we’re excited to make our 5 Gig product available in the market.”

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is the company rolling out the National Broadband Plan (NBP) on behalf of the Irish Government and expects to be connecting end users to 5 Gbit/s Fibre Broadband from October 2025.