Number includes 9,500 Cork premises that have been brought forward from 2026
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for delivering the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP), has announced that almost 15,500 Cork homes, farms and businesses in the rural surrounds of the Kinsale, Clonakilty, Killavullen and Meelin deployment areas are being moved to an earlier completion date in 2025 than had been originally scheduled.
The number includes over 9,500 premises in Co Cork that have been brought from 2026 into NBI’s schedule of works for this year. The 15,500 homes and businesses included in this move will be able to avail of a connection to NBI’s network up to eight months sooner than previously anticipated.
The move underpins NBI’s commitment to accelerating the rollout wherever possible, ensuring that homes, farms, and businesses across rural Ireland can avail of fast and reliable internet access sooner. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Co Cork will receive €314M of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan with 82,000 homes, farms and businesses across the county included in NBI’s rollout.
As of today, NBI has made high-speed fibre broadband available to 36,731 premises in Co Cork, with 12,650 premises already connected to the NBI™ network through one of over 70 participating broadband providers.
The take-up of NBI’s services continues to outpace expectations. Areas where the network has been live for over 18 months are reporting take-up rates exceeding 50%, far above international benchmarks. Nationally, over 4,500 new premises are connecting to the network each month.
Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to announce that almost 15,500 Cork premises in rural areas around Kinsale, Clonakilty, Killavullen and Meelin are moving to an earlier anticipated completion date, with approximately 9,500 of these homes and businesses moving forward from 2026, with the remaining being delivered sooner than previously expected in 2025.
“The huge progress that was made on the rollout in 2024 means we can deliver high-speed broadband to more homes and businesses earlier this year and leaves us in a strong position to complete our rollout on time and on budget. With just two years remaining, we’re working tirelessly to ensure we meet our commitments and provide communities with the connectivity they deserve.
“With over 70 different internet providers offering broadband services on the NBI™ network and with January typically being switching season, there is BI™ network, visit NBI.ie/buy”.
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.
