Build works for a new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) are well underway with the first homes in Killarney expected to be connected before the end of this year.

Over 3,382 premises have been surveyed to date in the town and surrounds 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 surrounding Killarney including Ardlaghas, Banard, Knockasarnet, Lahard, Lisroe, Muckross, Nunstown, Oldforge, Slievegaura, Toormore and Whitefield. 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. Additionally, the network build started in Tralee last month.

In Kerry, there are 26,905 premises in the 'Intervention Area', which includes homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools. This equates to 30% of all premises in the county. Under the National Broadband Plan, Kerry will see an investment of €107m 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 pleased with the progress being made.
“We started physical work on the ground in January 2020 and despite the challenging environment caused by COVID-19, we’ve grown and mobilised the team working on the project across all 26 counties and are making good progress. We are acutely aware that people want access to high-speed broadband as soon as possible, and our goal is to deliver that. We are currently working closely with retail service providers, and other stakeholders, to connect the first homes in Killarney before the end of 2021. Minimum speeds of 500Mb will be available.”

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.