The milestone means that more than 3m people across Ireland have access to high-speed fibre connectivity.

Broadband provider Open Eir, a subsidiary of the Eir group, has deployed 50,000km of fibre to date – enough to circle the globe – giving full service to 1.4m homes and businesses. This means that 3.6m people in Ireland have access to high-speed fibre connectivity. 

The organisation has made an ongoing commitment to bringing high-spec broadband features to rural and urban locations. Earlier this month, it launched 5Gbps, a new high-speed fibre optic service for all operators. According to Open Eir this comes at a pivotal moment in Ireland’s transition to full fibre, as it ensures the country is prepared for the demands of the future.

Commenting on the news, Maeve O’Malley, the managing director of Open Eir Wholesale said, “Passing 1.4m homes and businesses with Ireland’s largest full fibre network is a major milestone and a reflection of the expertise, dedication and hard work of our teams nationwide. The launch of our 5Gb broadband service marks the next chapter in Ireland’s digital evolution, delivering the speed, performance and reliability of today’s connected lives demand. 

“These achievements are the result of sustained investment – over €1.7bn in recent years – building a robust, future-ready network. That investment is enabling Ireland to become one of the most digitally advanced countries in Europe. Fibre is faster, more resilient, more energy efficient, and it will power Ireland’s digital growth and innovation for generations to come.”

In tandem with the Government’s National Broadband Plan, Open Eir aims to ensure that by the end of 2028 the remaining 2.4m homes and premises across the country will have access to high-speed Gb broadband.

To achieve this, Open Eir will modernise its infrastructure and continue building a digital network that is reflective of the needs of modern Ireland. 

According to a ComReg report issued late last year, Eir, of which Open Eir is a subsidiary, had the highest revenue share of the country’s communications market at 39pc for that quarter. Data suggested that seven other companies, including Virgin Media Ireland, Vodafone and BT Ireland, together make up the majority of the remainder, alongside other smaller operators.

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