High-speed broadband network on the way for Mayo island communities
NATIONAL Broadband Ireland (NBI) has announced that residents on Achill Island can now place an order for high-speed fibre broadband, with connections set to go live this summer.
NBI is delivering its fibre broadband infrastructure to 3,156 homes and businesses on Achill Island and the surrounding area on the mainland coastline. This includes 2,481 premises on the island and 675 premises in the Corraun and Ballycroy townlands on the mainland.
Over 200 premises on the neighbouring offshore islands of Achillbeg, Inishbiggle and Clare Island can place an order for NBI’s fibre today.
Those interested in ordering broadband or finding out more information on when they will be able to connect can call the NBI contact centre on 0818 624 624 or visit www.nbi.ie.
Peter Hendrick, chief executive officer, NBI, said: “At the heart of the National Broadband Plan is our mission to ensure that no community is left behind. This is true for all remote and rural areas across Ireland, including our island communities.
“We are proud to deliver high-speed broadband infrastructure to residents of Achill Island, Achillbeg, Inishbiggle and Clare Island. These communities will have access to the same quality, speeds and reliability that our network offers to anyone living on the mainland.”
Local business owner Anna Sutcliffe, House of Achill, said: "My work is completely online, and I can’t afford to have a bad connection. A reliable connection is the difference between getting things done and feeling stuck. If the internet drops, everything stops - my business, my meetings, and connectivity for islanders and kids.
“The biggest thing fibre broadband will give us is freedom; freedom to live here, work here, and not have to leave just to get a decent connection."
The rollout of the National Broadband Plan comes ahead of proposals to begin decommissioning Ireland's legacy copper phone line network which has supported telephone landline communication and basic internet access. With fibre broadband now being deployed nationwide, copper lines are increasingly obsolete, and plans are being developed for their phased removal over the coming years, a process known as copper switch-off.
Said Mr. Hendrick: "Copper networks were never designed to cater for the digital demands of today's society, which is why the shift to fibre is essential.”
Across Mayo there is a total of 12,105 premises that can now pre-order or order broadband, with 3,620 connections made so far.
The NBI infrastructure is already live on 10 islands including Mayo's Inishlyre and Collanmore.