National Broadband Ireland hosts EU Broadband Competence Offices
Network as NBP rollout passes 250,000 milestone
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for
delivering the Irish Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) in
the intervention area, last week hosted a delegation from EU Member
States. The session featured the rollout of fibre broadband to
rural Ireland under the NBP.
The delegation from the European Broadband
Competence Offices (BCO) Network, which brings together EU Member
States’ national and regional public authorities in charge of
broadband deployment attended a series of presentations with senior
NBI officials about the company’s rollout of fibre broadband to
rural Ireland.
NBI’s fibre rollout has now passed 254,917 premises
across rural Ireland. Last month, the company announced that it
aims to make high-speed fibre broadband available to over 300,000
homes, farms and businesses before the end of this year. Overall,
NBI’s rollout will deliver fibre broadband to 564,000 premises
across the country by the end of 2026.
To date, over 84,000 premises have connected to
high-speed broadband through NBI’s network. While connections are
averaging at 1 in 3 nationally, the take-up rate is already
exceeding 50% in areas where the NBI’s network has been available
for longer.
Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with
responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy,
said: “The Government has made significant progress
delivering high-speed fibre broadband to rural Ireland. We’re
delighted to host our European colleagues and to share insights and
learnings with them from our work on the National Broadband Plan.
The project is being delivered within budget and is set to be
completed on schedule by the end of 2026.”
“The National Broadband Plan is seen as a benchmark
for European connectivity projects. It not only represents a
significant achievement for Ireland, but also highlights our
commitment to fostering a digitally inclusive society for all our
citizens.”
Commenting on the EU delegation visit,
Peter Hendrick, National Broadband Ireland CEO,
said: “In 2019, NBI won the bid to deliver the
National Broadband Plan on behalf of the Irish Government, one of
the most ambitious telecoms projects in the world. It’s a truly
once in a generation infrastructure project and is one of the
biggest and most significant investments in rural Ireland ever.
Given that we have over a quarter of a million homes passed, with
over 84,000 already connected, and since the project is on time and
on budget, it is an ideal opportunity to share our experiences of
delivering a project of this scale with the EU Commission.”
Jan Droge, BCO Network Director,
commented: “The engagement between stakeholders from
the EU Member States with National Broadband Ireland was a really
positive one, particularly around the demonstration of successful
approaches, good practices to stimulate innovation, and
facilitating a transfer of knowledge and ideas towards creating a
European Gigabit Society and Digital Decade. As we know, the future
competitiveness of Europe’s economy depends on advanced digital
infrastructures and services, since fast, secure, and widespread
connectivity is essential for the deployment of the technologies
that will bring us into tomorrow’s world.”
David McCourt, founder and chairman of
National Broadband Ireland, commented: “A huge amount
of credit must go to the Irish Government for its ambition in
developing the National Broadband Plan. Their blueprint coupled
with our execution provides a model for other countries to follow,
as Ireland will soon become the most connected country in Europe.
Critical to the success of the National Broadband Plan, NBI has
built up a team of some of the best and brightest minds in global
telecoms who intimately understand how to build and operate a
world-leading open-access network and attract over 70 Internet
Service Providers to sell service on the new national network. We
are excited to share our learnings with the rest of Europe,
covering everything from our survey, design and build practices,
our early technology choices, our stakeholder engagement and demand
stimulation strategy, right through to our customer service
capabilities which have resulted in industry leading net promotor
scores.”
The European BCO Network, whose objective is to
build their capacity to bring reliable, high-speed broadband
connectivity to all EU citizens, convened a series of meetings in
Dublin over the 18th and 19th of June.
Issued on behalf of National Broadband Ireland by
Murray Group.
Media Contact:
Martin
PhelanMurray0872467106nbi@murraygroup.ie
Notes to Editor:
About NBI National Broadband
Ireland (NBI) is designing, building, and operating the new
high-speed fibre broadband network for rural Ireland on behalf of
the Irish Government.
NBI brings together some of the most talented
individuals in Ireland and across the world, with deep knowledge
and experience in delivering projects to the scale of the National
Broadband Plan (NBP). This includes developing, designing, building
and operating networks and coordinating all elements required to
finance and deliver a project of the size and complexity of
Ireland’s NBP.
NBI was established by Granahan McCourt, an
international investor in technology, media, and
telecommunications. For over 30 years, Granahan McCourt has
partnered with governments, corporations and communities to connect
people through innovation in technologically underserved areas of
the world.
NBI’s majority shareholder is pan-European
investment infrastructure firm Asterion Industrial Partners.
Specialising in European infrastructure across telecoms, energy and
utilities, and mobility sectors, Asterion combines deep financial
knowhow with respected industry credentials. Asterion is uniquely
positioned with a growing portfolio of rural fibre assets across
Europe, mirroring its continued commitment to facilitate
futureproofed internet access to underserved rural areas.
Nokia is providing the active equipment for the
project while Indigo, Actavo and Entegro are the network design
partners. NBI’s build partners include Actavo, KN Group, Secto and
TLI. NBI is also working with infrastructure owners and operators
such as Openeir (pole and ducts network) and Enet (State-owned
MANs).
NBI will be responsible for the management of the
new fibre broadband network for at least the next 25
years.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03b67b57-f908-4090-b3bf-33f59e55456d