Data usage in Cork up 20% over two years

Cork experienced ‘significant growth’ in digital connectivity in recent years, with data usage increasing by 20% between 2022 and 2024, according to a new report

The Digital Ireland Report 2026, published by Eir, tracked Ireland’s progress from 2019 to 2025.

Some 175,730 homes in Cork were connected to Eir’s fibre network at the end of September last year, the report found, while 60% of connected households nationwide are now consuming more data on average than they did at the beginning of the 'digital decade'.

According to Eir, Cork experienced "significant growth in digital connectivity and data usage", driven by “rising demand for highspeed broadband, increased mobile data consumption, and sustained investment in next-generation networks”.

Cork was among five counties to record 20% growth in average data use between 2022 and 2024. The highest increase in average traffic per household — 22% — was recorded in Cavan and Meath.

Overall traffic on Eir’s broadband network more than doubled since 2019, with the average household usage on highspeed fibre rising by 61% in five years.

This, according to Eir, is the equivalent of 6.2 hours to almost 10 hours of HD video per day.

Mobile users in Cork consumed 19.78GB per customer per month in 2025, the third highest in the country behind Dublin and Clare, representing an average growth of nearly 77%.

Eir chief executive Oliver Loomes said the findings from the report show that “Ireland has undergone a remarkable transformation in digital infrastructure and usage”.

“This report shows that Ireland’s Digital Decade is real and measurable — in the way we work, learn, do business, and come together at our favourite festivals and matches,” said Mr Loomes.

“Data use has exploded, powered by our investment in fibre and 5G, and Ireland now has the opportunity to be one of the most connected, competitive and inclusive digital societies in the world.”