Some 90,000km of fibre optic cable is to bring high-speed broadband to rural Ireland under Eircom’s proposed solution to the upcoming National Broadband Plan.
A series of events took place in Belcarra, Co. Mayo recently to demonstrate the impact the 1Gb Fibre to the Home (FTTH) technology has had on the area.
Eircom says that this trial comes in advance of the August commercial launch of FTTH services in 19 locations that will expand to 66 communities as part of a nationwide footprint nationwide.
The solution enables speeds of up to 1Gb/second (1000Mb/second), the fastest speeds in the country and comparable with the best broadband networks globally, it says.
The Mayo event heard from local people whose lives and businesses have benefited from the service. The event was live-linked to the Balla Livestock Mart with the local community centre and a primary school via fibre technology.
Eircom says that the FTTH solution will enable Belcarra and other rural communities to compete nationally and internationally.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited the Community Centre and Manulla National School, where An Taoiseach put the high speed broadband connection to the test. He Skyped Mayo football star Donal Vaughan to ask him about the upcoming All Ireland Football Championship.
Our job in Government is to ensure that the recovery that has taken hold reaches every community in Ireland. Delivery of high-speed broadband to rural Ireland is a key part of achieving this.
Eircom’s fibre to the home pilot in Belcarra clearly demonstrates how high-speed broadband can support and enhance every aspect of rural life. It can support those working remotely, running online businesses, using new technology in farming and transforming educational delivery in schools.
“This is part of building and maintaining rural communities for the future,” the Taoiseach said.
Minister for Communications, Alex White, said that the National Broadband Plan has created a policy and regulatory environment that is helping to stimulate commercial investment.
“The commercial sector has responded by investing heavily to provide high speed access to 70% of Ireland’s premises. The Government will ensure that high speed broadband is delivered to the remaining 30% through a State-funded intervention.”
By ensuring access to high quality broadband we will help attract investment, and ensure that businesses in rural Ireland can stay in rural Ireland.
Eircom CEO Richard Moat said that as a country, we have a once off opportunity to build a future proofed high-speed broadband network to the benefit of hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses with the potential to revolutionise many aspects of rural life and re-invigorate rural communities.