According to a press release from National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for delivering the new high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP), "construction is now underway to bring high-speed broadband to over 1,600 homes, farms, and businesses in the Carrigallen deployment area in Co. Leitrim." This area includes the rural surrounds and townlands of Carrigallen, Aughavas, and Drumreilly.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that homes, businesses, and farms across rural Ireland are connected to future-proofed, high-speed internet. Co. Leitrim, part of the State’s Intervention Area, is set to receive €46 million in Government investment for broadband infrastructure. "This area will benefit from minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second, which will significantly improve digital connectivity for rural residents," the press release stated.
A total of 12,000 premises in Co. Leitrim are included in the State’s Intervention Area, with NBI currently working to deliver high-speed broadband to 1,607 homes, farms, and businesses in the Carrigallen area. These premises are expected to be connected by the end of the year. NBI’s website is regularly updated with estimated connection dates, and those interested in staying informed can sign up for email notifications at nbi.ie/eoi/.
NBI has already completed works in other parts of Leitrim, with a total of 6,821 premises now able to order or pre-order high-speed broadband. Of these, 1,674 premises are already connected. NBI encourages residents to visit the NBI map and enter their Eircode to check if their premises is ready for connection.
As part of the broader rollout, NBI has connected over 344,000 homes, farms, and businesses across rural Ireland, with more than 116,800 now connected to high-speed broadband. "The take-up rate is impressive, with 33% of eligible premises opting into the service, which surpasses initial projections and international benchmarks. In some areas where the network has been live for 18 months, the take-up rate exceeds 50%," the company shared.
TJ Malone, CEO of National Broadband Ireland, commented, "Our teams are working hard on the ground across the country, and significant progress has been made in Leitrim. High-speed fibre broadband is now available to order for nearly 6,800 premises in the county, including over 900 near Carrick-on-Shannon, more than 2,200 near Keshcarrigan, and almost 2,600 near Manorhamilton. We continue to progress other areas through engineering surveys and design phases, and we encourage all Leitrim residents to visit the NBI website to check their Eircode for updates."
NBI aims to improve digital connectivity nationwide with a minimum internet speed of 500 Mbps, "a vital resource for sustaining local businesses, education, and rural communities."
As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell broadband directly to consumers. Instead, it enables broadband services from a range of Retail Service Providers (RSPs), who are responsible for providing connections to end-users. "Currently, 73 RSPs are signed up to sell services on the NBI network, with 69 RSPs certified and ready to provide connections," the company confirmed.
In addition to the Fibre-to-the-Home rollout, the National Broadband Plan includes the establishment of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. These BCPs, which include community centers, sports clubs, tourist sites, and other public spaces, offer free public access to high-speed internet. "As of now, 955 BCPs are live across the country, with several located in Leitrim, such as the Aughavas GAA Centre, Aughawillan Community Centre, and Leitrim Gaels Community Facility." These BCPs will benefit rural communities by facilitating mobile working, e-learning, digital tourism, and mobile banking.
Primary schools in the Intervention Area are now also connected as part of the National Broadband Plan, "ensuring that students have access to the digital resources needed for their education." To keep track of the progress in their area, NBI encourages residents to visit www.nbi.ie and sign up for regular email notifications. Checking eligibility and receiving updates ensures that individuals are always informed about when they can expect to be connected.
National Broadband Ireland is tasked with designing, building, and operating the high-speed fibre broadband network for rural Ireland on behalf of the Irish Government. The company is working with a range of partners, including Nokia (providing active equipment) and various infrastructure partners such as Actavo, KN Group, and Secto, to deliver the network. NBI is committed to managing the broadband network for at least the next 25 years, ensuring sustainable connectivity for rural communities across the country.
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