Number of connected farms has more than doubled in two years from 10,000 to over 23,000 

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP), has announced that 52,675 farms in its rollout area can now access high-speed fibre broadband, with 23,037 already connected – more than double the number of farms connected just two years ago. 

Almost 65,000 farms will be able to connect to high-speed fibre broadband on National Broadband Ireland’s fibre broadband network when the rollout is completed later this year. 

NBI has passed almost 460,000 homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland with over 170,000 connected to high-speed broadband. The average take-up rate of 37% is well ahead of projections and international comparisons and surpasses 60% in some areas of the country where the network has been live for longer. 

TJ Malone, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: “The National Broadband Plan is transforming rural Ireland, and nowhere is that more evident than on our farms. The number of connected farms has more than doubled in just two years, reflecting the real and growing demand for reliable, high-speed connectivity in the agriculture sector. 

“Farmers are leading adoption on our network, recognising the role broadband plays in improving productivity, enabling smarter farm management and supporting diversification. From herd management apps and precision machinery to robotic milking systems, connectivity is now essential infrastructure on the modern farm. 

“Just as importantly, fibre broadband is enabling farms and rural homes to move away from legacy copper phone lines to a modern, future-proofed network. With older copper infrastructure set to be phased out over time, it is important that rural communities transition to fibre to ensure continued access to reliable phone and broadband services. This shift brings greater reliability, significantly faster speeds and the capacity to support the growing digital demands of farm businesses and family life, both now and into the future. 

“With our main infrastructure rollout set for completion later this year, NBI is entering the final phase of delivery. Our focus now is on ensuring every eligible farm connects and can fully benefit from the opportunities high-speed broadband provides. We’re encouraging all farmers to contact their broadband providers and get connected to the NBI network.” 

Choosing a Broadband Provider  

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. 

Over 50 RSPs are available on the NBI network™ to provide connections as of today. To see all retail broadband providers that are currently on the NBI network™, visit nbi.ie.   

Keep up to Speed!     

NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates at nbi.ie to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progress in their area.