Farms leading digital transformation of rural Ireland with over 19,000 already connected
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP), has announced at the National Ploughing Championships that 45,571 farms in the rollout area can now access high-speed fibre broadband, with 19,388 already connected.
This milestone comes after NBI recently announced it had passed almost 404,000 premises in its rollout of the National Broadband Plan. To date, over 143,000 premises across the country have connected to the NBI™ Network.
The take-up rate amongst farms stands at 42.5%, significantly higher than the national average of 35%, demonstrating the appetite that farms and farming families have for high-speed internet connectivity. In total, 65,000 farms will be able to connect to fibre broadband when the infrastructure rollout is completed next year, ending Ireland’s rural-urban digital divide.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, said: “The National Broadband Plan is transforming rural Ireland, and nowhere is that clearer than on our farms. Today’s announcement shows the tangible progress being made with thousands of farmers already connected and thousands more set to benefit over the coming months.
“This Government is committed to ensuring that every home, farm and business in the rollout area has access to high-speed broadband. By the end of next year, that commitment will be delivered, helping to sustain farm families, drive rural development and secure Ireland’s place as a leader in digital connectivity.”
TJ Malone, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to announce this milestone at the Ploughing Championships, one of the key events of the year for the farming community. Farmers are embracing fibre broadband faster than any other group, and that speaks volumes about how central digital tools have become to modern agriculture.
“From herd management apps, precision machinery, to running diversified farm businesses, high-speed broadband is unlocking opportunities that were unthinkable just a few years ago. With the main infrastructure rollout set for completion next year, we are in the final stretch of delivering a future-proofed network that will serve generations of rural families and businesses. We’re urging all farms to contact their broadband providers and get connected to the NBI network.”
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. With more than 50 broadband providers actively selling on NBI’s open-access network, rural communities now have access to the same level of competition and choice as those in urban areas. Customers can select from a wide range of internet providers, with competitive pricing and bundled packages available nationwide.
The National Broadband Ireland website is regularly updated to show estimated connection dates. Signing up to the NBI email notifications at /eoi/ is the easiest way to get the most up to date status of premises (Eircodes) during the rollout and when premises will be ready for order.
*Data correct as of 05.09.2025
