Broadband plan roll-out extended to 1,400 properties in Mountbolus area of Offaly

Some 1,400 homes, farms and businesses in and around Mountbolus in Offaly can now connect to high-speed fibre broadband as part of the Government's roll-out of the National Broadband Plan.

The area where this infrastructure is being delivered covers the rural townlands and areas surrounding Derrinboy, Kilcormac and Killoughey.

National Broadband Ireland said it brings the total number of Offaly premises able to avail of a high-speed connection through the scheme to 4,500.

However this is still less than half of the total of 13,000 premises in Offaly which are included in the State's 'intervention area' for the broadband plan.

National Broadband Ireland said the connected properties would benefit from minimum internet speeds of 500 megabits per second.

It described the broadband roll-out as "the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification," and said Offaly would receive €48m in Government investment under the National Broadband Plan.

It added that the 1,380 Offaly premises in the Mountbolus deployment can now visit: nbi.ie/map/ and enter their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect.

Network build works are also continuing across Offaly with build works in progress for over 2,000 premises near Tullamore, almost 1,900 premises near Birr and almost 1,500 premises near Banagher.

Peter Hendrick, chief executive of National Broadband Ireland (NBI) said: "We are delighted to announce that almost 1,400 Offaly premises in the Mountbolus deployment area can now order high-speed broadband services through the NBI network.

"This will enable those who connect to experience the life-changing benefits of high-speed broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second.

"Overall, almost 4,500 homes, businesses and farms in Co Offaly can now order a high-speed fibre connection to the NBI network. This includes over 1,200 premises in the Moate deployment area and over 1,300 premises in the Roscrea deployment area near the Offaly-Tipperary county border.

"We are working hard on the ground to progress other areas of the county through engineering survey, design and construction phases. We are encouraging Offaly residents to visit the NBI website to check their Eircode and sign up for updates."

As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users. Instead it enables service delivery from a range of commercial broadband providers.