The Digital Connectivity Strategy and the National Broadband Plan for Ireland foresee that all premises in Ireland will have access to high-speed digital connectivity. The contractor National Broadband Ireland builds a predominantly fibre-based network to cover 560.000 premises in Ireland.
National digital connectivity strategy and policy
Responsible authorities
- The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport leads national policy on telecommunications, mobile connectivity, and the digital economy. It acts as the contracting authority for the National Broadband Plan.
- The Commission for Communications Regulation is responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications sector and the postal sector in Ireland.
Main aims for digital connectivity coverage
The National Broadband Plan for Ireland was updated in 2025. Its core objectives are to contribute to sustained macro-economic growth and competitiveness.
In November 2019, the government signed the contract for the implementation of the national broadband plan. The contractor National Broadband Ireland builds a predominantly fibre-based network to cover 560.000 premises in Ireland. Around 146.000 kilometres of fibre will cover 96% of Ireland’s land mass. NBI is a wholesaler offering passive and active wholesale products to all retail and wholesale service providers willing to provide services in the area. The services are offered to all broadband retail providers from the largest to the smallest, on a non-discriminatory basis.
The Digital Connectivity Strategy from 2022 sets the overall targets: all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028, all populated areas covered by 5G by no later than 2030, and complete the delivery of digital connectivity to all Broadband Connection Points and all Schools by 2023. Digital connectivity will be delivered primarily through the commercial investment of the telecommunications industry. Government will take measures to drive increased Gigabit and 5G connectivity, including complementing commercial investment in infrastructure with Government-led initiatives and through facilitating other strategic enablers.
The aims of the government with respect to digital connectivity are also set out in the national strategy, Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, published in 2022. The strategy is to drive the digital transition across the Irish economy and society. The ambition is making connectivity available to everyone, including through the National Broadband Plan, Remote Working Hubs and Broadband Connection Points, with a target of having all Irish households and businesses covered by Gigabit network no later than 2028 and all populated areas covered by 5G no later than 2030.
Main measures for digital connectivity coverage
Regarding digital connectivity mapping, the Irish government has established an interactive High-Speed Broadband Map. The mapping tool provides an overview of the areas covered by operators and areas subject to the State Intervention of the National Broadband Plan. The Map is updated on a quarterly basis to reflect the movement of premises from white to grey.
National and regional digital connectivity financial instruments
From the Recovery and Resilience Plan EUR 19 million are allocated for the connectivity measure that will help public administrations maximise the benefit from 5G technologies. The investment consists in building a low-latency platform with a high-speed backbone using edge compute nodes to enable a faster response. In addition, EUR 13.5 million are earmarked for provision of high-speed broadband connectivity to schools under the dedicated digital infrastructure programme for schools.
Data on digital connectivity development and technologies in Ireland
For the latest data on digital connectivity coverage, subscriptions and penetrations, coverage of different digital connectivity technologies check the Digital Decade country reports.
National and EU publications and press documents
- A National Broadband Plan for Ireland
- Digital Connectivity Strategy
- Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework
- High Speed Broadband Map
- Broadband Officers contact list
- Broadband Investment Handbook
- Mobile and Fixed Broadband Prices in Europe 2023
- Study on National Broadband Plans in the EU27
Contact information
BCO Ireland (national Broadband Competence Office):
Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
Commission for Communications Regulation
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