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Futurescope 2016

SIRO CEO Sean Atkinson will be speaking at the ‘Future World, World changing or back to the future’ panel discussion.

Dublin Business Innovation Centre (Dublin BIC) is hosting FutureScope 2016, the annual tech event that is designed to bring start-ups, scale-up ups and multinationals together – with the purpose of creating business opportunities. As well as a strong stage presence from multinationals, FutureScope will play host to an impressive line up of growth stage companies – those that are scaling in fast moving global environments.  The start-up success stories will have a role on the main stage and on offstage panels which will run all day on specified verticals that include; IoT, Fintech, Data Analytics, Aerospace, Creative Industries and the Future World.  See the event programme, here. SIRO CEO Sean Atkinson will be speaking at the ‘Future World, World changing or back to the future’ panel discussion chaired by Aiden McCullen, RTE's Head of Innovation and presenter of their Innovation show. Tickets can be purchased here.

Aaron O'Reilly talks to Dr. Sarah Heir on 'Appliance of Science'

Did you know that each fibre optic cable is less than a tenth as thick as a human hair? Aaron O'Reilly, SIRO Planning & Design Manager discusses the power of fibre optics in transmitting data with Dr. Sarah Hehir of IT Sligo on episode 11 of the Appliance of Science exclusively for Ocean FM Sligo. The SIRO network is unique; a step change from what has previously been used in telecommunications. Other telecoms networks use a combination of fibre, then copper. This slows the connection and performance. As Aaron mentions, copper ‘bottlenecks the speed of broadband that can be delivered to premises and businesses’. SIRO is using fibre optic cables to transmit data; the most advanced and future proofed method. Have a listen to the Ocean FM interview here: [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/264877177" params="color=00cc11&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Listen to Stephen O'Connor talk all things SIRO on the Francie Boylan show.

Our Corporate Affairs Director Stephen O’Connor met Francie Boylan of Ocean FM to discuss our revolutionary network and the launch of SIRO in Sligo town. Stephen discusses our new national telecoms network which ‘marks a step change because it is delivering its services not over wireless or mobile or copper but delivering them over fibre optic cabling which is the gold standard’. Have a listen to Stephen's Ocean FM interview here: [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/264876514" params="color=00cc11&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

SIRO announces Sponsorship of American Chamber of Commerce Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Network Programme

Today, April 6, marks the start of SIRO’s exciting partnership with The American Chamber of Commerce's Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Network Programme. The programme is a peer sharing and learning network for member companies active in research and development. It aims to identify positive steps that can be taken to enhance the R&D environment in Ireland and beyond and to maximise economic and societal benefit. The partnership was officially launched at a special breakfast this morning at Dublin’s Science Gallery, with guest speaker, NASA Spacecraft Engineer Amber S Gell. Ms. Gell is part of the team designing and building the Orion Spacecraft, NASA's new Multipurpose Crew Vehicle for deep space exploration that will be used to take humans to the moon, asteroids, Mars and beyond. 160406_JB1_003 As our name is derived from Sirius - the brightest star in the night sky - and we are set to light up Ireland's communications landscape, it's quite apt that the first speaker for the 2016 Research, Development & Innovation Network Programme, sponsored by SIRO, is from NASA. SIRO is founded on research, development and innovation – which has led to a 100% fibre network providing speeds of up to 1 GB, delivered using ESB’s overground and underground electricity infrastructure to 51 towns around Ireland. 160406_JB1_056 We are delighted to sponsor the American Chamber of Commerce Research, Development and Innovation Network this year, and look forward to more exciting engagements in the future.

SIRO glides in as main sponsor of Dundalk on Ice.

In July, SIRO announced Dundalk as Ireland’s first SIRO-powered town and the roll-out that SIRO is undertaking will future proof the town for the range of demands of customers have now and more importantly into the future. As a small thank you to the people of Dundalk, SIRO was delighted to take the opportunity to sponsor, Dundalk on Ice. Dundalk on Ice is a key part of the Dundalk Christmas “Frostival” celebrations. Speaking at the announcement of the sponsorship, Marianne Murphy, Head of Marketing at SIRO said: [quote author="Marianne Murphy, Head of Marketing - SIRO"]“Since we began work on rolling out SIRO in Dundalk in July we have been overwhelmed by the goodwill and support we have seen from the people of Dundalk. As we come up to our first Christmas in Dundalk we’re delighted to play a part in the Christmas celebrations with this wonderful initiative.”[/quote] Dundalk-ice-ring-header-text SIRO will transform the broadband experience of consumers and businesses in Dundalk. The rollout that SIRO is undertaking in Dundalk will future proof the town for the range of demands of customers have now and more importantly into the future. Frostival is a joint initiative, funded and supported by Louth County Council, Dundalk BIDS, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Marshes Shopping Centre.

SIRO Welcomes Publication of National Broadband Plan Draft Intervention Strategy

SIRO has welcomed the publication of the draft intervention strategy for the National Broadband Plan by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White TD.

[quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]"We in SIRO welcome the Government’s ambition to ensure that every citizen and business in Ireland will have access to a high speed broadband service, regardless of where they are located."[/quote] "It is important that the solution ensures that everyone in rural areas is guaranteed a quality connection.  Therefore we are of the belief that a 100% Fibre-to-the-Building solution should be pursued in order to ensure that the National Broadband Plan is future-proofed to match the needs of Irish internet users decades in the future. We need to be clear what is meant by a real fibre connection, as opposed to letting it becoming a ‘catch-all’ phrase. The National Broadband Plan is a fantastic opportunity for Ireland to retire its old copper-based access broadband network and switch to a 100% fibre optic system, putting the country on a par with leading international hubs for connectivity, such as Tokyo and Hong Kong. While the National Broadband Plan aims to guarantee speeds of at least 30Mbps in hard to reach rural areas, SIRO is focused on delivering a 1,000Mbps (1 Gigabit) connection powered by a 100% fibre optic connection to every premises that forms part of our network. We note that 30mbps is a minimum requirement, rather than target. We believe SIRO’s 100% Fibre-to-the-Building network is best positioned to provide the optimum solution for meeting the Government’s ambitious National Broadband Plan’s ambitions. Delivered over the ESB electricity infrastructure, we can connect with any premises no matter how remote their location is, without having to build new poles or ducts. More importantly, as SIRO is Ireland’s first fully open, all fibre access network; it is available to all telecoms retail operators in the country, is not economically bound to legacy infrastructure and will drive much needed competition in the market."

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White TD today unveiled SIRO.

The new brand of ESB and Vodafone Ireland’s fibre broadband joint venture company. As part of the launch, Enda Kenny TD revealed that SIRO will employ 60 people, and a further 200 construction jobs will be supported across Ireland as part of the rollout of the network. SIRO, derived from Sirius the brightest star in the night sky, is set to light up Ireland’s communications landscape when it delivers the most powerful network in the country, unlike any other broadband infrastructure in Ireland. SIRO is investing €450 million in building Ireland’s first 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network, offering speeds from 200 Mbps to 1000 Mbps to 500,000 premises in fifty regional towns, revolutionising the broadband market in Ireland. SIRO is not a retail product. [gallery ids="221,219,220"] SIRO is unique in that it exclusively offers a wholesale open access network meaning that it will be available to all telecoms operators in Ireland to resell to their customers. The first ten locations, dubbed Ireland’s first Gigabit towns or “fibrehoods”, to be included in SIRO’s roll-out are Cavan, Dundalk, Westport, Castlebar, Sligo, Carrigaline, Tralee, Navan, Letterkenny and Wexford. Construction on the network began last September delivering 1Gigabit speeds to 300 homes in Cavan, and continues this summer. The initial phase of the project, which consists of fifty towns, is expected to be fully rolled-out by the end of 2018 with scope for a second phase that will reach 300 smaller towns. At the event SIRO also announced its interest in tendering for the National Broadband Plan later this year to deliver the optimum solution for bringing high speed broadband to rural Ireland. Backed by two of Ireland’s leading companies Vodafone and ESB SIRO already has access to €450 million in funding to roll-out the first phase of the project, with additional funding available for future investment and further phases. SIRO’s 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network will be deployed on ESB’s existing overhead and underground infrastructure, ensuring a fast and cost efficient roll-out to every county in Ireland and reversing the digital divide between the capital and regional towns. SIRO’s key differentiator is that it is a custom built 100% fibre optic service powered by light, making it different and better than any other broadband infrastructure in Ireland, with no copper connection at any point in the network. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, said; "This Government is serious about broadband. High speed broadband is a necessity for all Irish homes and businesses as we connect Ireland to the world and create new jobs. This is why the Government supported the joint venture between ESB and Vodafone to create SIRO. Today’s launch of SIRO will light up Ireland. As a result of this project, 50 regional towns in 26 counties – the equivalent of half a million homes and businesses around Ireland – will have access to a 1 Gigabit 100% fibre broadband connection, putting us on a par for high speed connectivity with leading international hubs, such as Tokyo and Hong Kong. As a result, Ireland’s first Gigabit towns – Cavan, Dundalk, Westport, Castlebar, Sligo, Carrigaline, Tralee, Navan, Letterkenny and Wexford – will ultimately have the same economic opportunities as those that are available in Dublin. I'm also delighted that this new venture will create 60 direct jobs and 200 construction jobs in the development of the new network." Minister for Communications, Alex White TD, also commented; "The formation of SIRO has added a hugely competitive dynamic to the Irish market, and it comes at a critical time in the development of our broadband infrastructure. These developments are encompassed by the National Broadband Plan, which is in the process of delivering high speed broadband to every home, school and business in Ireland, regardless of its location. This is being achieved by a partnership between the Government and commercial telecommunications companies. The commercial sector has responded by investing heavily to provide high-speed access to 70% of Ireland’s premises. The Government will ensure that high speed broadband is delivered to the remaining 30% through a State-funded intervention." [quote author="Anne O Leary, Vodafone Ireland CEO" twitter="@annatters" image="111"]Irish consumers and businesses deserve so much more from their broadband and SIRO is a transformative project which will finally provide the connectivity required to put Ireland on an equal footing with some of the most competitive economies across the globe. [/quote] O'Leary added; "SIRO’s launch today will put Vodafone at the heart of delivering the best broadband service to people right across the country. Vodafone are very excited at the prospect of offering our customers access to this ground breaking new technology in the autumn. This project is being held up internationally as an example of unique innovation where telecoms operators can re-use existing national electricity infrastructure to provide broadband right into customers’ homes and businesses. It is Ireland’s first fully open access network, which is a huge positive as it will drive welcome competition in the market and much needed investment in broadband infrastructure across regional Ireland." [quote author="Pat O'Doherty, Chief Executive of ESB" image="127"]This is the first project of its kind in Europe and will ensure a fast and cost efficient roll-out to every county in Ireland, reversing the digital divide between the capital and regional towns – a potential legacy that we can all be proud of.[/quote] O’Doherty continued; "Together with Vodafone, ESB is investing almost half a billion euro in SIRO to deliver the most powerful broadband service ever available in Ireland by running fibre technology alongside some of our overhead and underground electricity lines. As an organisation that sits at the heart of towns and communities across the country, ESB takes immense pride from the fact that SIRO’s 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network will be a key enabler for a knowledge based, services led economy and will transform the internet experience of SMEs, remote workers and consumers in regional Ireland." [quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]We are very fortunate to have two parents in the form of ESB and Vodafone, both leading international companies with the technological and infrastructural expertise to make SIRO a reality.[/quote] Atkinson said; "This project demonstrates how a commercial semi-state is making efficient and effective use of its assets, along with Vodafone’s fibre expertise, to deliver world leading speeds to the Irish market. SIRO will deliver a bright future for Ireland, supporting economic prosperity by delivering services that are cutting edge and transformative and boosting retail competition in the broadband market for all Irish consumers and businesses. SIRO's 100% fibre optic broadband service will help Ireland’s regional areas compete more effectively for investment and jobs, SMEs to work more efficiently and give consumers unrivalled digital access. SIRO as a custom built open access FTTB wholesale operator is ideally suited to helping the Government achieve its National Broadband Plan goal of delivering a minimum of 30 Mbps to every premises in the country."  

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500,000 homes and businesses in 50 towns to receive world-leading speeds.

Vodafone and ESB have today welcomed European Commission approval of the creation of a joint venture company to deliver a 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network for the first time in Ireland. The open access network, which will be available to all authorised broadband operators in the country, will help to propel Ireland into the ranks of the world’s fastest broadband countries and open up a new world of possibilities for Irish consumers and businesses. ESB and Vodafone are investing €450M in the joint venture, which will utilise ESB’s existing electricity infrastructure to deliver the fibre-to-the-building network across the country. The 100% fibre-to-the-building network will offer broadband speeds from 200 Mbps to 1000 Mbps, initially reaching 500,000 premises in 50 towns in phase one. The two companies will now go about formally establishing the joint venture. Construction will commence early in the new year and phase one is expected to be fully rolled-out by the end of 2018, with further scope for a second phase thereafter. The first technical trials of the technology are already underway in two estates in Cavan town. While the ESB and Vodafone joint venture will build and manage the fibre-to-the-building network, open access will be offered to all authorised operators in Ireland on a wholesale basis. This means that other operators can resell the fibre product to their customers, helping to stimulate the development of new services and boosting retail competition in the broadband market for all Irish consumers and businesses. The Commission’s decision was welcomed by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White TD, who said; “This decision is great news for Irish broadband customers and providers as it will drive competition in the sector, while giving 50 towns nationwide access to a market leading, future proofed broadband service. It’s an important project which complements the Government’s National Broadband Plan to ensure that all of Ireland’s regions have access to fast broadband. It is also hugely significant in terms of the National Digital Strategy which aims to get more small businesses online. High speed broadband is a crucial element for Ireland’s future competitiveness and this project will help ensure that Ireland is better connected than most countries in the world. It’s a very ambitious project from two leaders in innovation that has received the endorsement of the Commission. I’ve no doubt that the venture will be highly successful and I wish ESB and Vodafone well as they move to the next phase and establish the company.” Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive of ESB, also said; "This is a huge milestone for ESB. We have invested €6 billion in recent years in transforming and modernising Ireland’s electricity grid, so that it can deliver this type of service. It’s consistent with ESB’s strategy of innovating, modernising and working in collaboration with other industry leaders. [quote author="Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive of ESB" image="127"]The fibre-to-the-building broadband network will be the most significant development in Ireland’s broadband sector to date and will be a real boost for regional Ireland and the economy as a whole.[/quote] Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive of ESB continued; "We will create an entirely new type of connectivity – seamless, instant and powerful – so that people in towns like Cavan can have the same amazing online experience as Tokyo. I look forward to the establishment of the company with Vodafone and to progressing with roll-out to enable Irish businesses and consumers to advantage of a new world of possibilities.” [quote author="Anne O Leary, Vodafone Ireland CEO" twitter="@annatters" image="111"]"The project is consistent with Vodafone’s strategy of investing in ambitious projects and technology to deliver the most innovative services."[/quote] Anne O’Leary, Vodafone Ireland CEO said; "This open-access network, made possible by the coming together of two strong established brands – Vodafone and the ESB, will revolutionise consumers and businesses’ experience of broadband. The fibre-to-the-building network will provide a vital boost for the Irish business community, particularly in regional areas, by getting more companies online, enabling them to develop new products and services, creating new international trade opportunities and attracting more FDI to Ireland."  

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