Digital infrastructure has become as fundamental to Ireland’s future as transport, energy and water. As businesses embrace artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid working becomes more embedded and public services continue their digital transformation, high-speed connectivity is no longer simply a utility; it is critical national infrastructure.
The government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Ireland. Designed to ensure every home, farm, school and business can access high-speed broadband regardless of location, it aims to eliminate the digital divide that has long limited rural communities and regional economic development.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the rollout, has confirmed that more than 500,000 premises have now been passed by the fibre network, with the programme entering its final phase. The scale of the project is unprecedented, involving approximately 1.5 million poles, more than 140,000km of fibre cable and coverage across 96 per cent of the country’s landmass.
As the rollout nears completion, attention is increasingly shifting from construction to impact. Speaking at the National Infrastructure Summit, Jenny Fisher, chief executive of NBI Deployment, said success should no longer be measured simply by the number of premises connected.
“To really realise the benefit of any infrastructure project, it’s only as good as its adoption and people using and benefiting from it.”
That represents an important shift in thinking. Rather than focusing solely on engineering milestones, the emphasis is now on how digital infrastructure can improve productivity, strengthen communities and support Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.
“We’re really switching now to what is the impact of the availability of service to people,” Fisher said, highlighting broadband’s role in enabling remote working, reducing commuting, supporting regional enterprise and underpinning Ireland’s wider digital economy.
The National Broadband Plan has also been designed with future demand in mind. The fibre network has the capacity to support the next generation of digital services, from AI and cloud computing to digital healthcare, online education and increasingly data-intensive industries.
“The whole concept was looking at the demand side and it’s future-proof. We have built in a digital capacity to be able to afford that growth over the coming years.”
That long-term view is shared across the telecommunications sector. John Keaney, chief executive of Siro, believes Ireland’s investment in fibre infrastructure has positioned the country to compete internationally.
“We’ve given world-class connectivity to Ireland… and that becomes an enabler for world-class delivery from all of the industries and sectors that we have to compete in globally. Investment in being world-leading in connectivity can only be good as an enabler for Ireland’s businesses.”
The NBI network also operates as an open-access wholesale platform, allowing more than 70 retail broadband providers to deliver services over the same infrastructure. That model promotes competition, innovation and greater consumer choice while ensuring rural communities have access to the same digital opportunities as urban centres.
Delivering a project of this scale has required sustained collaboration between government, contractors, utilities and local authorities. Fisher believes maintaining momentum has been critical throughout the rollout.
“Planning is critical, but pursuing perfection really is the enemy of progress.”
Yet completing the network is only part of the challenge.
Ensuring businesses, public services and communities fully embrace next-generation connectivity will determine the long-term return on Ireland’s investment.
As Keaney argues, policymakers have an important role to play in accelerating digital adoption.
“Government should be on the vanguard of transformation… pushing the adoption of it across government, business, public services and into homes. That’s the role of policymakers – to encourage and support that.”
As Ireland continues to invest in housing, transport, energy and water infrastructure, reliable digital connectivity will play an increasingly important role in supporting economic growth, public services and regional development.
The National Broadband Plan, alongside continued private investment in fibre networks, has significantly expanded access to high-speed broadband.
Now we must ensure that businesses, public services and communities make the most of that investment.