Just 31 Meath homes connected to high speed broadband network

While almost 110,000 homes across the country now have access to high speed broadband under the National Broadband Plan, just 31 of these are in Meath.

The figures were confirmed to the Meath Chronicle by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out high speed broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP), and highlight the slow pace of progress in Meath compared to other counties.

However, more than 4,000 more homes are expected to be completed by the end of this year as the roll out of high speed broadband to homes identified in the intervention area continue. The intervention area is the name given to areas where commercial operators are not providing access to high speed broadband and don't intend to as it is not commercially viable. In Meath, this accounts for almost 21,000 homes and premises.

The latest update from NBI show that 31 homes in Meath, which fall into the Skerries Deployment area now have access to fibre broadband. Nationally, 109,267 premises are ready for connection of which 28,986 have taken up the broadband and are connected.

Some 2,640 homes in east Meath that are part of the Drogheda Deployment Area are due to be completed by July of this year, while a further 698 from the Delvin Deployment Area are due for completion between July and September.

A total of 812 homes and premises in the Dunboyne/Clonee area are due to come on stream between September and December of this year.

There are almost 21,000 premises in Meath to be connected under the NDP in 18 different deployment areas, some of which also serve neighbouring counties.

Build work is currently under way in relation to 39 per cent of premises (7,724). A further 40 per cent or 8,068 premises are currently in network design.

However, survey work has yet to start for 20 per cent of premises in the Meath intervention area which equates to more than 4,000 homes and premises.

Last week, NBI announced the start of construction work on the network to supply the 3,403 homes in the Navan Deployment area. An estimated connection date has not yet been given but is likely to be at least next year.

The company also announced that surveying work has been completed on almost 1,400 premises in the Kingscourt Deployment Area, which takes in north Meath.

Under the National Broadband Plan, County Meath will see an investment of €76M 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 facilitate increased levels of remote working.

Having successfully completed the Survey and Design phase of the project, 3,403 Meath premises in the Navan deployment area are now under construction to have high-speed fibre.

Additionally, NBI crews have made substantial progress in north Meath with 1,383 premises in the Kingscourt deployment area having recently completed surveying work. These initial works pave the way for the next stage of deploying fibre on poles/ducts and includes the erection of poles, unblocking of ducts, and the insertion of sub duct into existing ducts, for the fibre to be installed.

Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland said: “Our teams continue to work on the rollout plan and substantial progress has been made on works in Meath.

“We are confident that the rollout will continue to gather pace as our ability to move premises from the construction phase to the order phase ramps up. We are currently working closely with retail service providers, and other stakeholders, to connect homes in Meath. Minimum speeds of 500Mbps will be available.

“Our mission is to end the digital divide across the country. Digital connectivity is critical to many of our activities, and this new Fibre-to-the-Home network, will be a key enabler for the sustainability of local businesses and communities.”

Under the National Broadband Plan, 559,000 premises nationwide are included in the Intervention Area, which was established by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to identify areas where commercial operators are not currently providing access to high-speed broadband or do not intend to.

NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates at www.nbi.ie to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progresses in their area.