Latest county milestone as National Broadband Plan rollout nears completion
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Tipperary County Council have today announced the completion of the National Broadband Plan’s main infrastructure build works in Co. Tipperary.
The milestone was marked today at an event in Boher Hall, which highlighted the role of high-speed connectivity in supporting education, employment, remote working and enterprise in rural and isolated communities.
The completion of works in Tipperary marks a major step forward for rural communities across the county, with high-speed fibre broadband now available to homes, farms, businesses and schools in areas that previously had no access to reliable, high-speed connectivity.
Tipperary is the latest county to reach this stage of the National Broadband Plan rollout as the national programme moves through its final phase of delivery. Works have also been completed in Kilkenny and Longford.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, TD said: “Today marks a significant milestone for county Tipperary and for Ireland with the completion of the National Broadband Plan’s main infrastructure build across the county. This investment is about far more than connectivity infrastructure, it is about creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and ensuring that people can live, work and build their futures wherever they choose.”
“In Tipperary, this €118 million Government investment is delivering world class fibre broadband, supporting our farming sector through digital innovation, and helping local enterprises grow and compete in an increasingly connected economy. This investment ensures that homes, farms and businesses across Tipperary can fully benefit in Ireland’s digital future.
“As the National Broadband Plan rollout nears completion nationally, this milestone in Tipperary is proof of the progress that has been made, and the momentum now carrying us through the final phase of delivery.”
Almost 31,000 premises in Co. Tipperary have now been passed by the NBI network and can order a high-speed fibre broadband connection. The rollout represents €118 million of Government investment in the county, with over 11,700 premises already connected to the network to date.
NBI’s fibre rollout is delivering broadband infrastructure to what is known as the State’s Intervention Area, which includes the most remote and rural parts of Ireland where commercial operators have no plans to deliver high-speed broadband. The network delivers minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms and schools, providing the infrastructure needed to support modern digital life.
Sinead Carr, Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council, commented:“The completion of the National Broadband Plan’s main infrastructure build works across County Tipperary is a significant achievement for our county. It reflects the strong partnership between Tipperary County Council, The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and National Broadband Ireland and all those involved in delivering this critical infrastructure.
“Access to reliable, high-speed broadband is essential for modern life. It enables people to work remotely, supports local businesses, enhances educational opportunities and helps ensure that our rural communities can continue to thrive. This investment will deliver lasting social and economic benefits for communities across Tipperary for many years to come.”
Jenny Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland Deployment, said: “The completion of the main infrastructure build works in Tipperary is a significant achievement for the National Broadband Plan and for the communities across the county that are now able to access high-speed fibre broadband. Reaching almost 31,000 premises in Tipperary required a major engineering effort across a large and diverse county, including many rural and dispersed communities. I want to acknowledge the work of our teams, contractors, retail partners, Tipperary County Council and local communities in helping to deliver this milestone.
“With over 11,700 premises already connected in Tipperary, we are seeing strong demand from homes, farms and businesses who recognise the value of reliable, high-speed broadband. This network is transforming what is possible in rural Ireland, enabling people to work remotely, access online education and healthcare, grow businesses, adopt new technologies and stay connected. We encourage every eligible home and business in Tipperary to check their Eircode and place an order through their preferred broadband provider.”
With construction now at an advanced stage nationwide, NBI has confirmed that the main build of the fibre network remains on track for completion by the end of this year. The network will enable high-speed broadband access for 566,000 homes, farms and businesses across rural Ireland, an increase of 29,000 premises from the original 537,000 identified at the time of contract signing.
Nationally, more than 491,000 homes, farms and businesses have now been passed by the NBI network and can order a fibre broadband connection, with over 180,000 connected so far as demand continues to accelerate. In many areas where the network has been live for longer, take-up already surpasses 60%, reflecting strong national appetite for world-class fibre connectivity.
Communities across Ireland, including homes, farms, small businesses and schools, are now able to access fibre broadband capable of supporting remote work, online learning, digital health services, agri-tech, tourism and local enterprise.
Residents and businesses in NBI’s rollout area can check their Eircode on the NBI website to confirm availability and view the list of broadband providers offering services over the network. NBI is a wholesale network operator, meaning homes and businesses order services through broadband providers rather than directly from NBI.
