WATERFORD has taken two important steps towards the installation of faster broadband in both the city and the county.
Rural and Community Development Minister, Heather Humphreys, launched the county’s Broadband Connection Points. And telecoms provider SIRO announced a one-gig fibre broadband roll-out in the city which it hopes will reach 9,000 homes and businesses by end of the year.
The connection points, a government programme backed by Vodafone, deliver high-speed internet at publicly accessible sites. They will improve access for remote work, study and community projects. They are an interim measure to provide rural communities with connectivity while National Broadband Ireland works to supply fibre broadband directly to each door.
The company, in a joint venture with the ESB and Vodafone, is investing €7.5m in Waterford.
Waterford’s connection points are at Knockanore Community Centre, Ballysaggart Community Centre, Modeligo Community Hall and Mount Melleray Community Hall.
The SIRO development replaces out-dated copper connections in Waterford city with fibre which is faster and more energy-efficient. The company, in a joint venture with the ESB and Vodafone, is investing €7.5m in Waterford.
Its faster fibre broadband will now be available across Ferrybank, Ballybricken, Gracedieu, and Lismore with plans to roll-out to additional areas such as Templar’s Hall and Foxwood by the end of year.
SIRO says dermand for the service has increased hugely with the growth in remote working and online shopping.
essential to the city’s future growth and Covid 19 recovery
The company’s chief executive John Keane said the investment of €7.5m in Watertford was a recognition of the city’s importance as a growing commercial centre and its potential for economic development and job creation.
He said good digital connectivity was “essential to the city’s future growth and Covid 19 recovery”.
