Source: The Connaught Tribune

NATIONAL Broadband Ireland (NBI) contractors have been surveying a number of areas in Co. Mayo.

Since January 27, contractors have surveyed over 126,000 premises in counties Cork, Galway, Limerick, Cavan, Wexford and Wicklow – and are on the ground in Kerry, Carlow, Waterford, Westmeath, Dublin, Kildare, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Mayo and Monaghan, and soon teams will move into Louth.

That’s a footprint in 24 of the 26 counties in 10 months and NBI will be updating the map on its website and social media as it moves through from surveying to the (fibre network) build/laying phases in each area.

The first of these – for the townlands around Carrigaline in Cork, and parts of Cavan – is now complete, and build works have started in both, with connections expected by the end of the year. The next connections will be in Galway, Limerick, Tralee and Wexford in early 2021.

Over 115,000 premises nationwide will be passed and available for connection within the next 18 months.

An update from NBI explained how it is only in the early phase (survey design) of the roll-out and they are starting to progress detailed design plans for the fibre network. There are 227 deployment areas to be surveyed and passed with fibre, and the first of these have been connected in parts of Cork, Cavan, Limerick and Galway. NBI will be working in parts of all counties in 2021.

NBI contractors have been surveying parts of Mayo in areas such as Springfield, Curry, Keelkill, Shinnagh, Erriff, Drumdaff, Ballyart, Fisherhill, Moyhenna and Corraun, for example.

NBI understand the vital need for access to high speed broadband and are working with all stakeholders to expedite the roll-out where possible.

The Broadband Connection Point project, which includes facilities such as GAA halls and community centres in the intervention area with free public access to high speed internet, is well underway, with most of the 300 facilities surveyed to date. There are now over 59 BCPs live and you can view them on the map by visiting /bcp-map/.

The remaining ones will open during the rest of the year and into early 2021.

Enabling facilities such as the BCPs at the earliest opportunity is important, particularly given the benefit they can provide for remote working, educational and other purposes.

Work on the BCPs is continuing in line with the advice provided by the government and the HSE. One of the BCPs for Mayo is located at Taugheen Community Centre and Playschool, for example.

As the BCPs start to open they will change from orange to green and can be seen by visiting /bcp-map/.

To stay updated on the roll-out plan people can sign up for updates at /eoi/