Why The Slow, But Much Needed Death of ISDN Can’t Come Soon Enough

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) first began to be used globally in the 1980s. It is effectively a set of communication standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data and other network services over the digitalised circuits of the public telephone network. However globally, even by the end of the 1980s, the technology was already being overtaken by new network systems with much faster speeds. However, not so the case in Ireland. Here, ISDN was introduced and billed as a step change in the digitalisation of the telephone network by Telecom Eireann in 1994, with the promise of multiple direct dial numbers (DDIs) over a single shared bearer. Originally, its capability to communicate video was also a key selling feature, with one of the original users of ISDN in Ireland being Gairmscoil Éinne on Inis Mór where pupils received their German lessons from a teacher on the mainland.

FTTP is a pivot point in terms of connectivity, shifting small and medium businesses into the same tier of connectivity as enterprises

However, over time the hype of ISDN died down, and the primary use case became one of supporting Private Branch Exchange systems (PBX) for businesses of all sizes and type. The use of ISDN in the home, which was a big early Internet access mechanism in Germany and France, never really took off in Ireland. ISDN reached its’ peak in Ireland in 2013, despite being long out of vogue in many countries at that stage. Since then, we have started to witness the slow death of ISDN in Ireland. From 2017 onwards the changes in Enterprise Networks and Solutions Architecture have impacted heavily on the use of ISDN access paths. Those key changes include:

• The move to mobile phones for non-desk bound employees

Apart from the helpdesk, call centre, support teams smart organisations have been moving their employees to a mobile first culture. This has the added advantage of not only ensuring the employee is available for voice interaction, but also that other work productivity tools such as email and apps are to hand. This move from fixed (ISDN) to mobile in the business has lowered the need for an ISDN expense in many businesses.

• The switch to pure IP networks, both internal and external.

The convergence of network architectures towards IP within the network, between networks and towards the Internet has provided the foundation for organisations to move to All IP services, including VoIP.

• The switch to Fibre To The Premises (“FTTP”)

The arrival of greater-than-Gigabit Fibre networks, such as SIRO, into the communications cabinets of businesses of all sizes has for the first time brought reliable, high quality, symmetric and unimaginable capacity connectivity at reasonable price points. A FTTP network can easily be segregated to support Voice, Data and Video securely on the same circuit without exaggerated cost. FTTP is a pivot point in terms of connectivity, shifting small and medium businesses into the same tier of connectivity as enterprises and allowing them to unlock the benefits themselves.

• More complex Distributed User Requirements

COVID-19 has demonstrated the strength of business teams operating away from the office. Whether working from home, hubs or halfway down the N17, ISDN doesn’t cut the mustard. It is inflexible and it connects a place rather than the person. VoIP connectivity works irrespective of location over Wi-Fi / 4G, just like people.

• The arrival of Cloud PBX and SIP Trunking

Cloud PBX allows for business to treat the cost of the PBX and the ‘line rental’ as a monthly service fee. Sometimes as low as €5 per month per seat with continuously innovating products coming with features such as mobile clients, call centre functionality, CRM integration, real-time reporting and IP handsets that can be located anywhere in the world. While SIP trunking allows for ISDN circuits to be replaced with IP circuits, using the same FTTP connectivity that is in place to provide broadband. Many legacy PBX can be upgraded with SIP Cards, or often a SIP/ISDN convertor can be used.

• End of Life of ISDN and NTU & PBX Cards

ISDN is so old that Eircom approached Comreg in 2020 seeking to end-of-life the product due to reasons including that manufacturer were no longer making the chipsets for ISDN NTU. The Comreg position was that Eircom should re-use/re-cycle NTUs pulled from the offices of ceasing customers to drag out availability of parts. Meanwhile in the UK, BT has announced the Switch off of ISDN in December 2025. The maintenance costs of legacy PBX with ISDN are increasing and the availability of parts and engineers to keep them running is declining. The risk to a business of a catastrophic fixed voice incident in these scenarios is not trivial.

• Cost / Price

ISDN is expensive. It is also duplicative. If you have ISDN for voice then you still need a FTTP broadband connection, when you have an FTTP broadband connection, however ISDN is no longer necessary for your voice services.  

The Future of ISDN

The future looks increasingly bleak for ISDN. With a startlingly number, approximately 175,000 Irish voice circuits, still reliant on this much outdated technology, this is no bad thing.

1. Comreg announced on 29 June 2022 in its Decision Notice D05/22 that Eircom, subject to certain timing constraints, may now cease selling and cease providing ISDN services, following the deregulation of Fixed Access and Call Origination services.
2. FTTP rollout is accelerating, with SIRO covering over 770,000 Irish premises within 4 years.
3. VoIP, whether through SIP Trunks or Cloud PBX is the recognised future proof investment for fixed voice connections for businesses.
4. Copper Switch Off – including PSTN and ISDN – is already being deliberated upon by Comreg.

However, from a business perspective, the future is bright: The switch from ISDN to SIRO 100% Fibre Broadband, through your retailer, to enable the delivery of fixed voice to your business will:

1. Save your business money.
2. Lower your business risk of fixed voice outages and ISDN cessation.
3. Enable your teams to work more flexibly, fluidly and freely; and
4. Increase the positive intensity of your voice interactions with your customers using innovative Cloud PBX features such as CRM integration and Virtual Call Centres.

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SIRO’s Employee Experience Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Gillian Quigley, explores digital wellbeing apps, mental health, and the importance of staying connected. They say these days that there’s an app for everything. An app to order food or clothes, to stream your favourite shows, and even to adjust the temperature within your home. But what about an app to improve your mental health?  General wellbeing and morale over the course of the past three years has naturally dipped because of strict restrictions, lockdowns and varying levels of anxiety within society. People yearned for diverse ways to connect when the effects of loneliness in Ireland was higher than ever before. 51% of people admitted that the pandemic influenced their mental health, with loneliness in Ireland doubling in 2021, as a result. It’s completely understandable that people would begin to feel more anxious, depressed, isolated or even paranoid when uncertainty was the norm for so long.  It’s not all bad, though. On the flip side, mental health awareness is at an all-time high. This is thanks in no small part to digital health and wellbeing apps gaining in popularity, due to increased awareness campaigns by health services and influencers. In a 2021 survey by St. Patricks Mental Health Hospital, 72% of those surveyed, believe Irish society is more open to talking about mental health issues since the onset of the pandemic. Not only that, but health services have also transitioned their practices to digital platforms to improve accessibility for patients. As an Employee Experience Manager at SIRO, understanding what platforms can help your employee’s morale and general wellbeing is a key aspect of the job. For employees in Ireland, there are many corporate and individual wellbeing platforms, promising a variety of outcomes, with most offering users free programmes through their apps that cover a wide range of health aspects. Meditation, emotional intelligence and wellbeing advice, yoga, and even financial support to name but a few. Being able to manage your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing in your own time, is one of the main reasons health apps have become so popular, especially as we shift into a hybrid, digital way of living. As well as that, it can make what is usually a daunting task easier to manage, as you dip in and out of these services, at times that work for you. SIRO, like other companies provide apps to augment our support resources. However, you may choose to research, evaluate and use your own preferred option. There are many popular and affordable apps that don’t require intervention from your workplace. Some of these apps include , Calm, and Mood Tracker. These platforms allow you to track their moods to identify potentially harmful patterns, allowing them to gain general perspective, combat anxieties and practice mindfulness through meditation or mindfulness. Personally, I use physical wellbeing apps and YouTube channels to help with my mental and physical health – I find exercise a terrific way to alleviate stress and find time for my thoughts. Fitness apps can empower people to take their health into their own hands, and the same can be applied to mental and spiritual health.   It’s important to emphasise that digital wellbeing and health apps are not just a temporary fix for use during the pandemic, but something that will be become a staple for the future. In acknowledging that digital wellbeing apps are a natural progression for health services, with more services coming online each day, it’s important to ensure that your home or business is prepared for this evolution. SIRO’s fibre to the premises broadband is a ‘one size fits all’ type of connectivity that’s resilient enough to handle any video calls, heavy data uploads without a break in signal, when using cloud-based health platforms. The pandemic has shown us that connectivity matters now, more than ever before. Staying connected with your friends, family and your own self is vital to having a positive, healthy state of mind. If you or someone you know are experiencing mental health issues, please contact: www.samaritans.org or 116 123.

SIRO, the broadband network operator, has today launched its’ 100% fibre broadband network in Ballina. SIRO’s broadband network will see the company bring its’ world class connectivity to more than 3,500 premises in the town, with a €4 million investment in this essential infrastructure. SIRO’s broadband network for Ballina was officially launched by Ballina Cathaoirleach Councillor Mark Duffy, at an event in The Great National Hotel this morning. Today’s launch in Ballina follows on from SIRO’s October 2021 announcement, where SIRO outlined its plans to connect 90 additional towns and 770,000 premises across Ireland with its’ Fibre-To-The-Premise broadband by 2026. The company’s total investment in broadband infrastructure across Irish towns will exceed €1 billion to deliver its’ future-proofed, sustainable broadband infrastructure. SIRO is a joint venture broadband company between ESB and Vodafone. Since its’ establishment in 2015, SIRO, has to date, rolled out its network to 65 towns across Ireland, reaching more than 430,000 homes and businesses and almost one million people. Across Mayo and the West, SIRO has already connected tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Castlebar, Westport, Galway, and Sligo to its network. Ballina will be the latest Mayo town to receive its 100% fibre broadband. Consumers and businesses will be able to order SIRO’s broadband from September, with network roll out expected to be completed by the end of this year. The first areas in Ballina that can avail of up to 2 gigabits per second broadband include: Cluain Na Rí, The Spires, Robin Hill, Church Manor, Healy Terrace, Oakwood Drive and Brae View. SIRO’s state-of-the-art fibre broadband network is built on the ESB electricity infrastructure, trusted for its’ reliability and resilience. Richard Nolan and CBE are the contractors on the ground in Ballina working with SIRO to ‘light up’ the town with high-speed fibre broadband.

Speaking at the launch, SIRO CEO, John Keaney said: “High quality connectivity is a key enabler for economic growth, and particularly for regional towns like Ballina. The pandemic proved that work from anywhere, once there is access to reliable and future proofed broadband, is now possible. Access to high-quality connectivity is a game changer which allows regional towns to compete on an equal footing with our cities for inward investment and job creation. It’s also an important service to have available for tourists and visitors to Ballina. Since 2015, SIRO has worked to bring world-class fibre connectivity to the heart of towns across Ireland. Our objective is to ensure our fibre broadband empowers people to work and live how and where they want and businesses to access the connectivity needed to operate with ease and efficiency. We are pleased to be extending our footprint further today, by adding over 3,500 Ballina premises to our network, in addition to our existing presence in Westport and Castlebar” added Mr. Keaney.

Present at the launch, Ballina Cathaoirleach Councillor Mark Duffy added: “Over the last number of years, Ballina has benefitted hugely as people have migrated West, either moving back home and/or leaving cities for a better quality of life. Investment in fibre broadband, like SIRO’s full fibre network, will keep them in Ballina. SIRO’s network and investment helps Ballina realise its’ full potential allowing people to stay connected and ensuring they can live, work and visit the town”. SIRO’s broadband network is currently available to 430,000 homes and businesses, growing to 770,000 over the next four years. SIRO as an open access wholesaler, partners with 19 broadband retailers across Ireland, to ensure that customers and businesses enjoy greater choice and competition. Retailers available in Ballina will be: Digiweb, Sky, Vodafone, Fastcom, PureTelecom, Westnet, and Viatel. First homes and premises will be live in September. To keep up to date with our rollout plans and to be notified when your home or business in Ballina is SIRO ready, register-your-interest today.

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Broadband network operator, SIRO, has today announced that it has upgraded its broadband network to enable 10 Gigabit fibre connectivity for enterprise businesses in Ireland. Our CEO John Keaney made the announcement this morning at a gathering of Galway business leaders at the Galmont Hotel, after Galway became its first 10 Gigabit city in the country as part of its wider €20 million investment in the city. SIRO is currently rolling out a 100% fibre broadband network across 154 towns and cities across Ireland, with services currently available to 430,000 premises and ultimately reaching 770,000 premises by 2026. Today’s upgrade announcement will see all Galway premises enabled for 10 Gigabit, followed by the remainder of SIRO’s network over the course of the summer. Services at this higher connectivity level will initially be limited to enterprise customers. In Galway, SIRO network is available to over 33,000 premises in the city stretching east to west from Oranmore to Barna and including key business parks such as Briarhill, Ballybane, Monivea Road, Terryland and Parkmore. Today’s announcement demonstrates the future-proofed nature of SIRO’s Fibre-to-the-Building broadband network as it has the ability to deliver higher speeds as data demand increases into the future. With works already completed in Galway, it is a significant development for the city and surrounding areas as it will help to attract further foreign direct investment, as well as empowering Irish enterprises in the region to compete on a global stage in today’s digital economy. Multi-gigabit speeds can provide:

• Symmetrical speeds up to 10 times faster than the best standard currently available to most Irish businesses of up to 1 Gigabit. For context, a 10 Gigabit broadband connection is able to transfer 1 Gigabit of data in 0.8 seconds;
• A future-proofed and reliable connectivity with the capacity to support the increasing number of connected devices used by businesses for years to come;
• Enhanced data and network protection by facilitating network management systems which isolate and resolve cybersecurity threats and hacks;
• The bandwidth needed for enterprises to integrate emerging and increasingly relevant technologies into their operations, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, 3D technology or voice recognition tools.

Commenting on the launch of its 10 Gigabit-enabled network for Galway City, SIRO CEO John Keaney stated: “Galway has long been a city which embraces technology, quickly leveraging innovation to drive economic growth and job creation. This has positioned Galway to successfully attract significant foreign direct investment and for its start-up businesses to compete globally. SIRO also has innovation in its DNA. As Ireland’s first 100% fibre network, operating as a broadband wholesaler driving greater competition and choice, moving up a gear to roll-out multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gigabit for enterprise, just makes sense. Higher speeds, increased bandwidth and much lower latency meets a growing business demand. More importantly, for us it’s about developing and deploying world-class connectivity infrastructure to support enterprise needs for years to come. “With speeds of up to 10 Gigabits, Galway enterprise level companies can develop and use products and services of the future, today. Access to this level of bandwidth will also give Galway city a unique competitive advantage in a global marketplace,” added Mr. Keaney. Search your business eircode today to see if you can Do Business Different

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Enterprise Ireland is the State Agency responsible for supporting exporting Irish-owned companies. We support start-ups from initial ideation stage in many settings, whether entrepreneurship training, third level institutions, start-up hubs or others. We are also an investor in many Irish funds offering seed and venture capital to companies and are a large direct equity investor in our own right. Our offer for established companies includes direct financial support and advice for expansion, investment, productivity improvement and innovation. We also provide advice and guidance for companies through dedicated Development Advisors on our team. Enterprise Ireland has 40 offices all around the world focused on market access and support for companies to grow and expand internationally

“Connectivity is the glue that binds digital technologies together within companies and with external parties.”

Outline the role digital technologies play in your business and/or the digital service or product you provide?

Digital technologies are vital to our business and have become even more so in the past 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The core function of our agency is that of marketing Ireland and innovative Irish products and services. Digital is key to marketing and engagement with communities of clients and especially potential buyers of Irish products and services. At a more basic level we are a client-facing organisation and the ability to continue to engage virtually with clients and with overseas partners and buyers vastly improves our efficiency and reach. There is no substitute for face-to-face in my view but being able to have a flexible option to connect digitally can cut months of delay from an engagement. For ourselves, EI is looking at continually increasing our programme of digitalisation to improve and future-proof our operations and our products.

“To use digital technology successfully, the underlying process you are applying it to must be understood and in control”

What are the key benefits that digital technologies can bring to Irish businesses?

Marketing and Sales is a key area – a small business can make itself look very big in a virtual environment. With high quality CRM and videoconferencing products any company can build a global sales organisation from just one location. If you combine this with language capability a company can conquer the world from any village in Ireland. Productivity is a great opportunity also – Enterprise Ireland has supported companies with lean programmes and operational excellence for many years – the next frontier of this engagement is digital. I have seen robotics in many client sites, for instance, and the game-changing impact to companies output, quality and cost. Employee engagement and retention is typically improved by working in a location with a digital mindset – people like when their work adds value and builds their skills.  

As connectivity improves across Ireland, what do you see as the big opportunities for Irish businesses from accelerated digital adaptation?

Connectivity is the glue that binds digital technologies together within companies and with external parties. The huge benefit of increasing that connectivity is making those technologies accessible and available to more and more companies. A company that doesn’t have connectivity available is, by definition, falling behind digitally – and with the way the world is going falling behind digitally means falling behind full stop.

For businesses to maximise benefits from digital technologies, what key advice would you give?

My key advice would be to understand what problem you are solving with digital and ensure you know how you will measure the business benefit of solving that problem. To use digital technology successfully, the underlying process you are applying it to must be understood and in control. And the great thing about digital technologies is that they scale well so you should be able to start small and trial the technology, seeing for yourself the impact and then decide how to develop, pivot or roll out further. Looking to take your business to the next level with a reliable broadband connection? Search Your Business Eircode today.

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SIRO, the fibre broadband wholesaler and joint venture between ESB and Vodafone, today launched a new €4 million fibre broadband network in Longford town. SIRO’s network roll-out will make high speed, reliable fibre broadband available to more than more than 4,000 premises in the town. The network was officially launched by Minister for State for Local Government and Planning, and Longford-Westmeath TD, Peter Burke in the Longford Arms Hotel. The announcement follows on from SIRO’s launch of their national network expansion in October 2021, where the company confirmed that a further 90 new towns, including Longford town, would receive its’ 100% fibre-to-the-premises broadband. This is in addition to the existing 64 towns already connected to SIRO’s network, including the midland towns of Mullingar, Athlone and Portlaoise. Currently, SIRO’s broadband network is available to 430, 000 homes and businesses, growing to 770,000 over the next four years. SIRO’s state-of-the-art fibre broadband network is built on the ESB electricity infrastructure, trusted for its’ reliability and resilience. 3,000 premises in Longford town can avail of SIRO’s fibre broadband network by the end of 2022, with the network to reach over 4,000. SIRO’s overall investment in Longford town will represents a €4 million by the company. TLI is the contractor on the ground in Longford working with SIRO to ‘light up’ the town with high-speed fibre broadband. Some of the first areas in Longford town that can avail of SIRO’s gigabit broadband are Dublin Street, Chapel Lane, Ballymahon Street, College Park, Canal Close, Harbour View, Fairgreen View, Farneyhoogan, Railway Meadow, and Western Park. Having a reliable internet connection is now an essential utility, as important electricity or gas. Research commissioned by SIRO earlier this year found that connectivity is also a key consideration when people are choosing where to live. The research found that 53% of under 35’s rank broadband as the most important factor when choosing a home. SIRO’s fibre connectivity is the last connection a home or business in Longford town will ever need, as its gigabit speeds are scalable and future-proofed for future demand – up to 25 Gigabits. SIRO as an open access wholesaler, partners with 19 broadband retailers across Ireland, to ensure that customers and businesses enjoy greater choice and competition. CEO of SIRO John Keaney, commented: “Connectivity is an enabler of growth for communities and towns within Ireland, and we are delighted to provide Longford town with a robust, reliable connection that can serve the people and businesses of the town for years to come. Since the pandemic, people have begun to recognise the value that a dependable, fibre connection can add to one’s way of life or business. With SIRO’s gigabit broadband, you can work anytime, and anywhere, stay connected to family and friends or live stream videos or gaming without any lag or downtime. More than 4,000 homes and businesses in Longford town will be able to access SIRO’s fibre broadband network, giving these premises a 100% fibre connection, which supports working from home and more lived-in, sustainable communities vs. commuter towns. SIRO’s fibre broadband will also attract further investment to the town and support local business to grow and develop particularly through greater use of digital technologies.” Minister of State for Planning and Government Peter Burke and TD for Longford-Westmeath stated: “This investment represents a significant gain for the people and businesses of Longford who can now access 100% fibre to meet the immense demand we all have for connectivity these days, whether this is for educational, leisure or business purposes. It is a key commitment of this Government to achieve balanced regional development with emphasis on growth outside of Dublin. High-speed broadband facilitated by SIRO will enable Longford businesses to maintain a level playing field and will act as another great reason to attract jobs and opportunities to Longford and the wider Midlands region. I congratulate SIRO on their expansion and look forward to seeing more and more locals reap the benefits of this fantastic service” To keep up to date with our rollout plans and to be notified when your home or business in Longford is SIRO ready, register-your-interest today.

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New research about attitudes to smart homes and technology commissioned by SIRO, the wholesale broadband operator delivering a Gigabit broadband network to 770,000 homes and businesses across the country, has found that almost two thirds (63%) of respondents believe that the energy saving and environmentally friendly benefits are the most important factors of smart homes. Just over half (54%) of the survey participants stated that smart devices have helped them save money. In the midst of rising energy costs, the technology is particularly appealing to over 55s. The research revealed that that demographic is most aware (72%) of the energy saving and environmentally friendly benefits of smart homes. 61% of over 55s also stated that the technology has helped them to lower costs, higher than any other age cohort. The research also revealed that high quality broadband is the most important factor for under 35s when considering their ideal home. Just over half of those aged under 35 (53%) surveyed singled out broadband as the deciding factor when purchasing a home, compared to the overall choice of the general public who placed a greater emphasis (40%) on a garden. Changing consumer habits and trends such as the shift to remote working and a fall in car ownership were evident from the research as factors like having a parking spot at their home (15%) ranked lower on the list. In the wake of the pandemic, a greater appreciation for high-speed quality broadband was also evident with 4 in 5 (84%) members of the general public flagging their support for a change in the Irish law to make it a requirement that developers must install high speed broadband and infrastructure when constructing all new homes. The research also revealed the widespread adoption of smart devices in Irish households. Almost seven out of ten (67%) consumers own a Smart TV; with just under half (49%) of households in possession of a virtual assistant technology like Alexa; a third of the public using smart home technology like digital heating controls and lighting; and a quarter using security devices like video doorbells. Noting the research findings, SIRO Head of Operations and New Developments Cian O’Mahony said, “At SIRO, through our work with developers to bring our high-quality fibre broadband to new developments, we see the huge appetite amongst the public for homes with smart and connected devices. Equally retrofitting existing homes with smart technology is a growing trend. Today’s research brings to life the reasons people are opting for smart home technology. These can vary depending on life stages. Those in the older age demographics are more likely to view smart homes as important for environmental reasons, with younger groups valuing the convenience that they provide. Commenting on the sustainability advantages, SIRO Director of Corporate Affairs Amanda Glancy said,“Smart home devices deliver numerous benefits. More sustainable living, achieving climate change targets, enhanced security or savings on energy or heating bills are key attributes. The latter is very top of mind given the steep increases in energy prices. As fibre broadband networks continue to roll-out across Ireland, this research indicates more individuals, families and communities will take advantage of the benefits of smart homes, particularly for environmental benefits and reducing the cost of living.” Research conducted by Amárach Research, surveyed 1,585 people in Ireland at the end of January 2022. Amárach Research undertook this piece of research among a nationally representative sample of respondents (age, gender, region and social class) on awareness of and attitudes to Smart Homes. Head of Operations, Cian O' Mahony will be speaking at the IHBA Summit tomorrow, April 5th in Croke Park on Broadband and Housing Construction. 

SIRO, has today announced it is to sponsor the connection and delivery of fibre broadband to Esker House - the Athlone-based Women’s Refuge and domestic abuse support service. SIRO, which is rolling out Ireland’s only 100% fibre broadband network across 154 towns, is partnering with broadband retailer Viatel to provide broadband connectivity to this vital service. Established in 1982, Esker House, supports women and their children who experience domestic abuse and violence. The Refuge provides services, support and outreach to 9 counties across the Midlands and West, stretching from Sligo to Roscommon to Carlow. Services offered by the refuge include Women and Children’s emergency refuge accommodation, a helpline, children/young person’s support Service, court support, court accompaniment, outreach service, advocacy, awareness raising and community education. Esker House’s most recent service user figures from 2020 highlights the importance of the refuge to the wider Midlands region, showing it:

• Responded to almost 500 crisis calls on their helpline
• Provided emergency support services to 109 women
• Providing 1,850 support sessions to women
• Provided refuge accommodation to 21 women and 27 children.

Pictured left to right: Deirdre Berry, Esker House Manager and Amanda Glancy, SIRO Director of Corporate Affairs

SIRO’s gigabit fibre broadband connectivity will further enhance the services provided by the refuge. Its’ existing phone systems can now move to a cloud-based solution, improving communications between the centre and its service users; while users of the emergency accommodation can access more reliable internet connectivity for work or education, TV and video streaming or to stay connected with family and friends. Commenting on the sponsorship, Esker House Manager Deirdre Berry, said: “Having high-quality and reliable fibre broadband will make a significant difference to our operations and to the services we provide to our users each day. For people who use our accommodation services, whether it’s for kids to help them do their homework or watch TV or adults wanting to keep connected, it will provide an important sense of stability. More broadly, for those seeking to avail of our services we can provide them with greater online options. We are delighted to have SIRO and Viatel come on board and support us in this way.”

Pictured left to right: Steven Farrell, SIRO Account Director and Linda Tiley, Esker House Team Lead and Deirdre Berry, Esker House Manager

SIRO’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Amanda Glancy noted: “Since the pandemic, and this year in particular, an uncomfortable spotlight has been thrown on the prevalence of domestic abuse, of women, men and families in Ireland. Unfortunately, too, the need for the support services totally outstrips demand for them. SIRO, with Viatel, is pleased to be able to support the hugely important work that the team at Esker House are providing across the Midlands Region, by sponsoring their broadband connection. Having reliable broadband allows individuals, families and businesses to live and work better, and in the case of those trying to access services such as Esker House’s, we believe connectivity is even more critical.” Damien McCann, Director of Sales and Marketing at Viatel, said: “It’s amazing to see the critical services Esker House provides for people across the midlands, Viatel are very proud to partner with the team in SIRO to provide this high-speed connectivity service to the Esker House facility, which hopefully will help users of the facility and also help the wider Esker House team’s daily operations” If you, or someone you know may need the services of Esker House, please contact their helpline at 09064 74122 SIRO is available in locations across Westmeath and the Midlands. Search Your Eircode today to see if you can avail of SIRO 100% Fibre Broadband.

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Lorna Conn joined Cpl plc in October 2017 as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed Deputy CEO in April 2021 and CEO in January 2022. Lorna has previously held senior roles in a number of public companies, residing in both Ireland and America during this time. Lorna is a Chartered Director and placed first in Ireland in her Diploma examination. Lorna is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, having trained with Deloitte. Lorna graduated with first class honours in both the Bachelor of Commerce degree in University College Dublin and the master’s in accounting in the Michael Smurfit Business School. Lorna is passionate about Ireland, as a location to live and to do business in.

Tell us about your business?

Cpl is a global provider of talent solutions including specialist recruitment, managed services, outsourcing and strategic talent advisory services through Cpl’s The Future of Work Institute. Our mission is to be the world’s best at providing transformational talent solutions & experiences to our clients, candidates, colleagues, and communities. Cpl employs over 15,000 people who support our 4,000 customers globally. We have almost 50 office locations operating in 12 countries world-wide - Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Tunisia, and the United States. Cpl is headquartered in Dublin and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Outsourcing Inc (‘OSI’), a Tokyo headquartered publicly listed company. OSI employs over 112,000 people world-wide and operates in 39 countries across 6 continents. Through OSI, Cpl has a network of 250 sister companies, enabling an even broader service delivery capability for our clients.

Outline the role digital technologies play in your business and/or the digital service or product you provide.

We partner with multiple digital platforms across our organisation, to enhance our service proposition and to improve our employee experience. We have invested in employee engagement tools, AI powered candidate selection tools, optical character recognition tools to automate employee expense accounting and digital compliance tools to automate candidate onboarding. Our digitised back-office manages online timesheets through automated flows to pay thousands of staff and bill our clients. We actively innovate new technology platforms like MyCpl – a mobile app that allows Cpl healthcare workers on demand access to their rosters, enabling them to accept / decline shifts in real time. We have also developed a remote health monitoring platform, ISAAC Care, that permits service users, through an app, to share information remotely with people who are identified as their ‘Care Circle’ 24/7. We actively pursue partnerships with leading edge technology partners who work with Cpl’s The Future of Work Institute in delivering next generation strategic wellness solutions to our clients.

What are the key benefits that digital technologies can bring to Irish businesses?

Digital technologies make Irish companies more competitive and more efficient in an increasingly digital-centric world. But it requires empowered and talented people to truly achieve the full benefits. Digital technologies have brought us increased efficiency in our processes, they have simplified complicated services and they have increased our ability to collate and assess data to generate new customer and market insights. It has helped us to better connect to our colleagues globally during a period of significant and sustained challenge. Digital technologies make the world a smaller and more accessible space.

As connectivity improves across Ireland, what do you see as the big opportunities for Irish businesses from accelerated digital adaptation?

I see an opportunity to further enable global workforce mobility. Given the last two years of remote working, companies should no longer feel constrained by the conventional boundaries of the office network. Accelerated digital adaptation will allow greater flexibility and remote working for employees and this will be particularly helpful in attracting and retaining staff in a tight labour market. Companies can also look further afield to attract new talent if their employee engagement processes are digitally supported. I also see a big opportunity to realise the value of Extended Reality (XR) technologies. Immersive technologies have been identified as a key driver of the next wave digital evolution, but the reality hasn’t quite matched the dream to date. These technologies have an ability to change how we learn, experience the world, and collaborate for innovation and change.

For businesses to maximise benefits from digital technologies, what key advice would you give?

Foster a cultural mindset of innovation and technology enablement in your organisation. If it doesn’t come naturally, force it - invite people to think-tank sessions, build it into your team meeting agendas and continuously ask for their input. People are best placed to identify the benefits of digital technologies. People will either adopt or fail to adopt technology, so you must come at it from a people first approach. You must also have a sound business strategy that clearly identifies where digital technologies play a role. Finally, technology can be daunting and cost a lot of money so an agile, almost paranoid approach to managing digital projects is a must. Make sure to carefully design and plan for your requirements, and carefully manage these requirements as projects develop, to maximise the benefits of your investment. Looking to take your business to the next level with a reliable broadband connection? Search Your Eircode today.

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Traditionally our image of the future involved flying cars, robots, and holograms at the touch of a button. Today, we have self-driving cars, robots that have autonomy, and billionaires going to space. Much of how the future was envisioned is beginning to come to pass, it is here, and we’re living in it. Right now, the tech industry is experiencing a massive shift in priorities. Web2 or social media as we know it today is migrating towards the “Metaverse”, an augmented reality focused on creating a space where people can experience the internet with their full senses. In October 2021, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a keynote speech announcing that the company would be changing its’ name to Meta, while also announcing their vision for the next stage of social media and the internet as we know it. As the name suggests Zuckerberg was moving his company away from its current work of building a set of connected social apps to pivoting to “Web3” better known as The Metaverse. Long gone are the days of dial-up broadband and modems screeching while loading a web page. Presently, we’re at the peak of Web2, which is defined by “websites that emphasise user-generated content, ease of use, participatory culture and interoperability for end users”. Social media websites such as TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Reddit are clear examples of Web2 in action. So what is the Metaverse? What does this mean for the future of connectivity and when will it become mainstream? The term was first coined in 1992 by sci-fi writer Neal Stephenson who used “the Metaverse” to describe a 3-D virtual-reality space.

The metaverse is a coming together of virtual, augmented, and physical reality. It blurs the line between your interactions online and in real life.

  Using virtual reality, augmented reality and blockchain technology, the Metaverse is set to bring the physical world into the “Metaphysical”. No matter where you were in the world, you could enter the Metaverse and host meetings, hang out with friends and retreat to your own virtual ‘living’ space. An important foundation of the Metaverse is the fact that it will have a fully functioning economy - individuals and businesses will be able to create, own, invest, sell, and be paid for work they undertake. We’re already beginning to see an economy emerge that is dependent on blockchain technology with the advent of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). So, what is required for an individual to try out the Metaverse right now? For starters, having the right connection is vital. Before you can consider the hardware required, you need to ensure your broadband can support your immersion into the Metaverse. In this case, fibre broadband is essential. While the Metaverse is still not a fully formed application, a fibre connection can future-proof your access. In 2021, SIRO announced Ireland’s fastest residential speed with 2 Gigabit being made available across our network in 2022. As the Metaverse develops further and larger bandwidths will be essential. Right now, to enter the Metaverse you need access to VR technology. Companies leading the market on this technology include Nvidia and Oculus for their headsets that allow their users to play video games using virtual reality. Augmented reality technology, which is available on smartphones applications such as Snapchat, Pokemon Go and any camera app with facial recognition and filters will have a key role in supporting our immersion into the Metaverse. Existing Metaverse enabled platforms which users can try out include Sandbox, Mirandus, and Decentraland which people can interact in different ways. With the Metaverse comes limitless possibilities and advantages for the end user. Meetings can be held in the virtual world, reducing commute times and unnecessary travel. Friends can host movie nights, virtual parties and get-togethers without leaving their home but remaining fully present. Artists can even hold virtual concerts. The 78 million people who attended Ariana Grande’s virtual concert on Fortnite last October shows the huge potential. Over the last two years, the way we’ve worked, lived, and played has shifted to greater adaptation of online living. In many ways, it has been a training ground for what the Metaverse aims to deliver: the future of connectivity. At SIRO, we believe that connectivity matters. The Metaverse is just one iteration of what a fully connected future will bring and the fibre we lay today will power the connected lives of our customers and businesses for decades to come. Search Your Eircode today to see if your home or business is SIRO-ready.

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