Build works for new National Broadband Ireland network underway in Castlebar
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP), has today announced that build works in Castlebar are well underway.
Over 2,100 premises in the locality have been surveyed to date with network designs completed to deliver the new Fibre to the Home (FTTH) network in the area.
NBI crews have started initial works for the build in townlands across Mayo including Cloghadockan, Mountgregory, Burren, Rockfield, Tully, Lismolin, Shanvoley, Kilhale, Fairhill, Shanvally, Garryduff, Derrylahan and Erriff.
These ‘make ready’ works pave the way for the next stage of deploying fibre on poles/ducts, and include the erection of poles, unblocking of ducts, and the insertion of subduct into existing ducts, for the fibre to be installed.
In Mayo, there are 36,495 premises in the Intervention Area (IA), which includes homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools.
This equates to 43% of all premises in the county.
Under the National Broadband Plan, Mayo will see an investment of €145M in the new high speed fibre network.
This will enable e-learning, remote monitoring of livestock or equipment, e-health initiatives, better energy efficiency in the home, and more remote working.
NBI chief executive Peter Hendrick said the company was satisfied with the progress being made.
He stated: “Our teams on the ground have made substantial progress since we first commenced with surveying and design works last year.
"As the country re-opens and restrictions are lifted, we are confident that this will further assist us as we continue to deliver the new high speed broadband network under the National Broadband Plan.
"We are acutely aware that people want access to high-speed broadband and our goal is to deliver that as quickly as possible.”
“There are 227 deployments areas across Ireland, covering 96% of Ireland’s land mass. We are currently working closely with retail service providers, and other stakeholders, to connect the first homes in Mayo before the end of 2021. Minimum speeds of 500Mb will be available.”
“Our mission is to end the digital divide across the country. Digital connectivity is critical to many of our activities right now, and this new Fibre-to-the-Home network, will be a key enabler for the sustainment of local businesses and communities.”
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs)
In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home roll out, the NBP provides for the delivery of BCPs nationwide.
A total of 178 of these sites are now ‘live’ and have both internal and external broadband access.
These facilities - which include sports clubs, community centres and tourist sites – will provide free public access to high-speed internet in the rollout area.
These will pave the way for rural communities to receive the benefits of broadband, from mobile working, e-learning and mobile banking, to digital tourism.
You can view BCPs at https://nbi.ie/bcp-map/.
Locations of Broadband Connection Points in Castlebar will include Islandeady Community Centre, Cushlough Community Centre, Taugheen Community Centre, and Bofeenaun Community Centre. Primary schools in the Intervention Area are also being connected for educational access as part of the NBP.
NBI’s website www.nbi.ie has a search tool to enable the public to check whether their premises is within the rollout area, and to show indicative dates for areas being surveyed.
There is also a facility to register for updates. NBI’s contact centre can be reached at 0818 624 624 (lo-call) or contactus@nbi.ie.