Ballinasloe’s first properties have been connected to high-speed broadband under the National Broadband Plan.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI) will be delivering broadband to around 39,000 homes, businesses, farms and schools across Co. Galway in the coming months under the plan.
Martin and Yvonne Moran’s house was one of the first to be connected by NBI, and Martin said that they delighted to have high speed broadband.
“It’s allowed myself and my wife to experience a variety of advantages, knowing that we can rely on a consistent connection to high speed broadband,” said Martin.
“This includes greater capacity to work on projects such as charity work and to enjoy leisure activities such as streaming, as well as video calls with family members abroad.”
Peter Hendrick, CEO of National Broadband Ireland, said that this a key milestone for the Ballinasloe intervention area under the broadband plan.
“As an increasing number of homes and businesses are being connected, we are confident that the rollout will continue to gather pace as we look to connect thousands more homes and businesses,” he said.
“We are acutely aware that people want access to high-speed broadband and our goal is to deliver that as quickly as possible.”
Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice said that while meeting NBI representatives in the county this week, he stressed the need for urgency regarding the speed of the deployment of broadband.
“Our communities in rural Ireland are in immediate need of connectivity and every effort is required to expediate the fibre rollout,” he said.
NBI contractors have been on the ground since January 2020 surveying townlands across the county.
This involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area, and enables design solutions for the provision of the fibre network.
Under the National Broadband Plan, 554,000 premises nationwide are included in the Intervention Area, which was established by government to identify areas where commercial operators are not currently providing access to high-speed broadband or do not intend to.
