The roll-out of high-speed broadband to over 21,000 premises in Limerick has moved one step closer, as the Government announced that work to finalise the contract for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is well progressed.
Limerick will receive an investment of €86 million to provide fibre broadband to 21,878 homes in the Intervention Area (IA). This is a mapped area of rural Ireland where high-speed broadband is currently not commercially available and it encompasses over half a million premises, 56,000 farms and 44,000 businesses.
In Limerick this includes areas such as Castletown, Loughill, Carrigkerry and Ballyorgan. In total, 22 per cent of all premises in Limerick will be passed and eligible for connection. The high-speed broadband is set to revolutionise working and home life for many who have had limited or congested connectivity up until now.
Some of the many benefits of high-speed broadband include e-learning, remote monitoring of livestock or equipment, e-health initiatives, better energy efficiency in the home, more remote working and the availability of value bundle phone, TV and internet packages.
Commenting on the latest news, Dr Mihai Bilauca Head of Digital Strategy & EU Programmes at Limerick City and County Council said: “We welcome the latest news regarding the investment commitment and move towards securing high-speed broadband for Limerick. This will create equal opportunities for people in both rural and urban communities to access information, education and to benefit from the digital economy. It represents a major step towards the Smart Limerick Region concept where people will access transformative services such as remote healthcare and medical appointments, online services and remote working – that will improve the quality of life for all. It will show that Limerick is ready for the digital age.”
