Ireland’s eircom has been joined by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD to launch its national fibre broadband network.
From this coming Monday (May 20), over 300,000 homes and businesses across the country will be able to have internet access at up to 70 Mbps, which is six to 10 times faster than they have been offered until now. By year’s end, the network should reach over 600,000 homes and businesses, with more than 10,000 being added each week. The network will be completed in early 2015, by which time it will reach 1.2 million homes and businesses, or 60% of the total.
Access speeds will meanwhile reach up to 100 Mbps within the next year.
Alongside the network, eircom has launched a complete set of eFibre products and bundles for consumers and businesses. They start at €40 for consumers and €24.79 for businesses, with the former being valid for six months for new customers.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD said: “Encouraging investment in superfast broadband for the benefit of our economy is a key goal of the Government in our efforts to get Ireland working again. I would like to pay tribute to eircom for the ambition and commitment to construct a national fibre network that will be available to all other operators and will directly benefit consumers and businesses throughout the country. Superfast broadband will support new enterprise and investment that will in turn create new jobs across the country. By working together with industry partners and policy makers for the greater good of the country, eircom is playing its part in rebuilding the country’s economic competitiveness which will underpin our sustained recovery. ”
Herb Hribar, CEO, eircom, added: “Today is a significant milestone for eircom Group. It is the first step in delivering what will be Ireland’s largest fibre broadband network. We are determined to maintain our position as the key provider of telecommunications in Ireland by delivering access to superfast broadband right across the country. eircom will continue to actively review its plans to expand the network beyond 1.2 million premises as far and as wide as commercially possible. Our fibre network is good for consumers, good for businesses and good for Ireland.”
