€76m plan to bring broadband to almost 19,000 Meath premises

Meath is to receive an investment of €76 million to provide fibre broadband to some 19,000 homes identified in the Department of Communication’s Intervention Area (IA), places not currently covered by commercial broadband providers (in amber in the above map).

Representatives of the company that won the contract to roll out broadband for the Government, National Broadband Ireland (NBI), made a presentation to Meath County Council’s July meeting outlining its plans for the county.

Some 18,989 premises in Meath have no access to high speed broadband, according to Joe Lavin, the chief commercial officer with NBI, and surveys will begin in the coming weeks in two areas – the Dunboyne and Drogheda areas – to assess the infrastructure available for the fibre network.

This figure represents 22 per cent of the county, which was "not bad" compared to the rest of the country, he added.

Nine ‘Broadband Connection Points’ have been identified in areas where it is important to get high speed content out quickly. Vodafone was recently awarded the contract to equip Wi-Fi in a number of these centres, with NBI connecting it to their network.

Cormac McCann, Meath’s broadband officer in charge of the county council’s digital strategy, said that there were nine locations identified: Cormeen Community Centre; Meath Hill GAA; Teach Raithneach, Collon; Syddan GAA; Castletown; Boardsmill GAA; Meath GAA headquarters at Dunganny; Rathkenny and Drumree GAA.

It is envisaged that these will be able to facilitate public access Wi-Fi for free, and provide for hot desks, and community initiatives such as Silver Surfers and Coder Dojo, Mr McCann said.

The Catholic church had vetoed the use of any of their properties, he said in response to a question about using a school premises.

Mr Lavin said he appreciated the frustration expressed by many of the councillors whose constituents could not get broadband while their neighbours could, emphasising again that the aim of the programme is to connect everybody.

The company’s aim is to ensure everybody has access to high speed broadband, he stated. While there are quite a few areas that are covered, a lot of people do not have broadband, and this digital divide became clearer during the Covid-19 emergency.

"The aim is that nobody will get left behind. Since the middle of March it has become apparent that it is an economic necessity."

Mr Lavin said that the company has signed a 25 year contract with then Minister Richard Bruton to provide a solution that is future-proofed for now and the generation to come, and will be using a fibre optic cable that will be easy to upgrade at both ends. The contract is for a seven-year build, but if it can be expedited, it will.

The fibre network is designed around 227 network exchanges, which are boxes with the fibre dragged out for 20km radius, joining up with each other until the whole country is covered.

Surveys are to be carried out in the Dunboyne and Drogheda regions, beginning in the coming weeks. They have to look at poles, ducts, road networks, and existing facilities.

"From Dunboyne, the 20km radius will take in parts of Kildare and Dublin too," Mr Lavin explained. "Our contractors will be walking the streets and roads doing surveys."

The Dunboyne survey will take in Blanchardstown, Maynooth, and onto Dunshaughlin, Summerhill and Trim areas, he said. The Drogheda survey will include Duleek, Donore, and the coastal area up to Stamullen and Garristown.

"Part of the Dunboyne/Clonee route will become a trunk link out to Dunshaughlin," Joe Lavin added.

NBI will be providing a standard connection to all houses, and charging a fixed rate of €100 to the retail service provider, who will absorb the fee and not pass it on to the consumer, he continued.