Broadband plan sees 70,000 connections to high-speed fibre in Cork

More than 70,000 Cork homes, businesses, and farms have been connected to high speed fibre broadband as part of the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) project.

There is now a total of 76,817 premises that can pre-order or order high speed, reliable broadband across Cork, with 23,086 connections made to date.

Works have been completed in most rural areas across the county, which includes areas near Bantry, Schull, and Templemartin.

NBI’s fibre roll-out, under the national plan, is delivering broadband infrastructure to what is known as the State’s ‘intervention area’.

This includes the most remote and rural parts of Ireland, where commercial operators currently have no plans to deliver high speed broadband.

The intervention area currently includes 83,000 premises in Cork, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools across the county.

In what has been defined as the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Cork will receive €314m of government investment under the plan.

TJ Malone, chief executive officer of National Broadband Ireland, said those now connected in Cork are experiencing the life-changing benefits of high speed fibre broadband.

“With the national switch-off of the copper network approaching, NBI’s fibre network will ensure communities across Ireland are prepared for the future by supporting remote working, education, healthcare access, and local enterprise while providing the reliability needed for everyday living.”