What is the difference between Copper & Fibre Broadband?

Fibre to the Home (FTTH) is an access network method that delivers the highest possible speed of internet connection by using optical fibre that runs directly into the home, building or office. The SIRO network is built using the ESB’s overhead and underground infrastructure, ensuring a fast, reliable and sustainable network. Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) versus Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH). In an FTTC connection, copper is used for the last piece of the connection (from tens to hundreds of meters) connecting the telephone exchange cabinet on the street and the router in your house. All the speed-of-light goodness of fibre optics is lost during this last stretch, and that’s why FTTC delivers speeds of no more that 100Mbps. On the other hand, SIRO FTTH network connects 100% fibre optic cables all the way to your home, delivering speeds up to 2000Mbps (2Gb). Fibre is faster, more reliable, and superior to copper in many ways, as it removes all the bottlenecks commonly seen in a copper network. You can connect as many devices as you like, play HD games, watch Netflix and download movies without slowing down your connection.

Yes you can connect to the SIRO network without an Eircode, but unfortunately some of our Retailers do have system limitations with this. Please email your full address to info@siro.ie, and request your Premises ID. This number is unique to your property on our network. We will respond with your Premise ID, and a list of retailers for your area who will be able to accept an order, if you are unable to wait for your Eircode to be issued.

As an open access wholesaler, SIRO is responsible for building the 100% fibre first network and makes it available to broadband providers to sell to the public/end user. Our retail providers offer a range of different products and speeds to homes and businesses at different price points. To find out which retailers are available in your area, please search your Eircode at our address checker.

When you purchase SIRO from a broadband provider, an engineer will visit your home at a time agreed by you to complete the fibre first installation. SIRO will be brought into your home either overhead or underground and into the ESB meter box. An external connector box which houses the SIRO fibre will be positioned close to the ESB meter box. The engineer will agree with you where to install our internal connector box. Some minor drilling is involved and some cabling depending on where you would like your modem. The engineer will ensure and prove that your home is receiving the fibre first speed based on the package purchased. For SME and Enterprise customers, an engineer will work with the business to determine the entry point. Where applicable the existing communications space will be utilised.

SIRO is a joint venture company between the ESB and Vodafone. We are building a 100% fibre-to-the-premise broadband network using the existing ESB infrastructure.  Launched in 2015, SIRO is Ireland’s first 100% Fibre First wholesale network and offer speeds of up to 2 Gigabit, the fastest speeds available on the market.