In 2016, the SIRO-Vodafone Gigabit Hub Initiative was first launched at Skibbereen’s Ludgate Hub. The Initiative was established to provide a gold standard of connectivity - 100% fibre broadband – to remote and digital working hubs. Access to fast, reliable broadband is essential to digital hubs, without it, it is difficult to make a compelling case to businesses and entrepreneurs to operate from there.
Today, digital hubs are setting a benchmark for the future of digital connectivity in a world moving beyond outdated copper networks.
Since its inception, the Initiative has linked enterprise hubs across the country with SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband, leading to the creation of over 650 jobs in 24 locations. By offering gigabit-speed broadband, it has empowered hubs to unlock the potential of seamless connectivity, driving digital transformation, fostering innovation, and helping businesses compete on a global scale.
As Ireland prepares for copper switch-off, the businesses within these hubs are capitalising on the advantages of fibre broadband to drive their business growth and commercial success. Under the Initiative, digital working hubs are connected, at no cost, to the SIRO full fibre network; provided with two years of free Gigabit broadband; and receive technical support designed to promote best-in-class connectivity for remote working hubs and their users.
From startups developing cutting-edge software to creatives showcasing their work to global audiences, the Gigabit Hub Initiative has enabled countless success stories, highlighting the untapped potential for all Irish SMEs to enhance their productivity and profitability when powered by future-proofed fibre broadband connectivity. . Read below some of the success stories illustrating the Initiative’s impact on businesses and communities across Ireland.
Creative Spark welcomes and supports new and established businesses operating within the creative industries, innovation, technology, and sustainable energy sectors. With dedicated training and ‘learning lab’ facilities alongside affordable workspaces, Creative Spark provides an environment where creativity thrives.
According to
Sarah Daly, Executive Director at Creative Spark:
“Our mission is to support small creative businesses and help them to grow. So having a place where they can come where they have reliable broadband all of the time is really important. For us for our mission, we're always creative projects happening. And people get involved in lots of different things together.”
Killian Kavanagh, CEO of Dovetail Consultancy, based in Creative Spark said
:“We handle quite a lot of large data files. There are graphic files, video files, also things like animation, etc. Broadband brings data to every part of my organisation. So it's absolutely vital for us to function. And recently we just changed our whole business model where all our staff now work remotely. Both nationally and internationally. And I manage it all here from the dock in the creative spark.”
Since opening in 2019, Cavan Digital Hub has become a central pillar for tech entrepreneurs and digitally focused companies in County Cavan. The hub continues to offer critical support to businesses looking to scale and thrive in the region.
ClubSpot, a B2B sports tech company based at the hub, highlights the transformative power of fibre connectivity.
CEO John Hyland shares:
“
By having a fibre here in Cavan Digital Hub and having a reliable, fast and secure connection, we are able to work with our remote offshore employees. So it's allowed us to build a team of people who have the right skills that are needed to drive the business forward, regardless of where they're based. We're able to do workshops for some of our product teams based in Ireland and some of our based across Europe.”
CREW Galway Empowering Creative Technologies in the West
As the West of Ireland’s first Creative Enterprise & Innovation Hub, CREW is a thriving space for entrepreneurs in the Creative Technologies (CreaTech) sector. The hub fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth, with a strong emphasis on community events.
Aisling Burke, CREW’s Innovation & Market Development Executive, reflects on how fibre broadband drives their activities:
“We have a lot of people working from here with our co-working spaces and our private offices, but our events are another part of that. And we rely fully on our fibre broadband to help us bring everything together. As we're not for profit; we really are trying to drive the market. So, our events are just one of the ways that we connect with our community. Fiber broadband helps us here in crew to host events and really, bring what we do here in our community to further afield.”
The Mill Drogheda A Launchpad for Ambitious Entrepreneurs
The Mill, a state-of-the-art 15,000 sq ft enterprise hub in Drogheda, hosts close to 50 companies with over 100 residents. Known for fostering a collaborative and nurturing environment, The Mill has become a launchpad for ambitious entrepreneurs in the region.
Donal Quinn, CEO of Enso, a sustainability-focused start-up based at The Mill in Drogheda, talks about the reliability of SIRO’s fibre broadband:
“It's so important, so for us as a start-up, constantly having calls, so we're doing sales calls online, we need to have reliable broadband. I'm also running a platform for sustainability, so for me to be able to manage it and have good access to it, it's paramount for our development.”
Expanding Possibilities for Ireland’s Hubs
Hubs equipped with fibre broadband aren’t just benefiting individual businesses—they’re fuelling community growth. From hosting networking events to enabling hybrid work models, these hubs are fostering innovation and creating opportunities that were once out of reach in regional areas.
The next chapter of the Gigabit Hub Initiative is about to begin, and your hub could be part of it. By joining the initiative, hubs gain access to SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband, helping them unlock new possibilities for their communities. Whether it’s empowering local startups, supporting creative industries, or enabling global collaboration, fibre broadband can transform your operations and position your hub as a cornerstone of regional economic growth.
Applications are now open for the 2025 Gigabit Hub Initiative. Don’t miss this opportunity to bring cutting-edge connectivity to your hub and the businesses you support.
Apply here:
https://siro.ie/about-us/gigabit-hubs/
To facilitate the network rollout, a limited number of planned electricity outages will be required during the months August to November inclusive. Impacted residents and businesses will be notified in advance of these outages by ESB Networks, with SIRO and ESB Networks working closely to minimise disruption.
Areas that will be covered by the rollout include, but are not limited to: Barracks Street, Bridge Street, Cemetery Road, High Street, Hollypark, Military Road, School Road, Seefin, Westgate and Woodlane.
SIRO’s full fibre broadband network, with speeds of up to 2 Gigabits for homes and 10 Gigabits for businesses, will provide Birr residents and businesses with fast and future proofed connectivity, enabling everything from seamless remote working or video streaming to supporting local enterprises in their digital growth.
Over the longer term, SIRO’s full fibre broadband network has the capacity to reach speeds of up to 25 Gigabits, ensuring Birr will have high quality connectivity for decades to come.
SIRO already enjoys a strong network footprint across the wider Midlands, including in Tullamore, Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar and Carlow town.
Homes and businesses who wish to avail of SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband can register their interest by email: https://siro.ie/register-your-interest/
Commenting on SIRO’s arrival in Birr, John Keaney, SIRO Chief Executive Officer stated:
Aoife O’Reilly, SIRO’s Head of Enterprise, commented:
Viatel Picture Conor McCabe Photography.[/caption]
INTERSPORT Elverys, who operate 44 stores nationwide alongside a dynamic online platform at elverys.ie , partnered with Viatel to enhance its connectivity infrastructure. This collaboration supports Elverys’ ongoing investment in its online presence, store portfolio, and advanced warehouse automation. The deployment began with the connectivity upgrade of their headquarters and distribution centre in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, utilising SIRO's future-proof fibre network, delivered and managed by Viatel.
Gareth Browne, IT Support Engineer at INTERSPORT Elverys, highlighted the exceptional service provided by Viatel: "The personalised service and responsiveness we’ve received from Viatel have been outstanding. Our dedicated Account Manager, Damien Peelo, has been instrumental in ensuring our needs are met. We’ve had the opportunity to visit Viatel’s Blanchardstown HQ, meeting the entire project team, and we benefit from weekly touchpoint calls with our Project Manager in the Service Delivery Team. This level of visibility and transparency has been transformative. With access to Viatel's 24/7/365 Network Operations Centre and enterprise-grade SLAs, we feel consistently supported and valued at every stage of the partnership."
Viatel's delivery of dedicated internet connectivity to INTERSPORT Elverys, leverages SIRO's 100% fibre network which provides speeds of up to 2 Gigabits per second for residential customers and up to 10 Gigabits for enterprise customers and is now available in every county in Ireland. This robust
foundation ensures optimal performance for Elverys' diverse operational needs, from in-store customer experience to online sales and logistical efficiency.
Damien McCann, Chief Commercial Officer at Viatel, emphasised the company's commitment to delivering superior solutions:
Pictured at the announcement are SIRO Chief Executive Officer John Keaney; Vodafone Ireland CEO Amanda Nelson (RIGHT) and ESB Deputy Chief Executive Marguerite Sayers (LEFT).[/caption]
The significant expansion of SIRO’s network now means it has grown to become the second largest full fibre broadband network in the Irish market.
SIRO currently offers speeds of up to 2 Gigabits for residential customers and up to 10 Gigabits for enterprise, but its network has the capacity to scale to 25 Gigabits when required.
SIRO’s network going live in Carrick on Shannon also means that SIRO now has a live network in every county in Ireland (Republic).
The addition of Carrick-on-Shannon to SIRO’s network forms part of its €1 billion investment in a future-proofed broadband infrastructure. While the company has reached over 620,00 premises to date, the company is on track to meet its commitment of over 700,000 premises by 2026.
Commenting on the milestone, SIRO Chief Executive Officer John Keaney said:
A key topic discussed was the importance of increasing awareness of the availability of fibre-to-the-premise broadband (full fibre) amongst Westmeath businesses. In Westmeath, as is also the case nationally, there remains a low awareness of amongst businesses of fibre access in their area.
Equally, greater information on what are the benefits fibre broadband can deliver for businesses relative to older forms of broadband is also required. Low adoption rates by businesses means that businesses risk missing the opportunity to enhance their operations through a faster and more reliable connection, according to SIRO.
The issue of copper switch off was also considered at the meeting. In December 2023, Ireland’s telecoms regulator, Comreg, approved the conditions for how the process of switching off the outdated copper broadband network can proceed.
The need for Westmeath businesses to avoid a cliff edge scenario by switching to faster, more reliable fibre broadband was emphasised. This includes upgrading business devices currently dependant on copper broadband such as security alarms, CCTV, lifts, payment terminals and landlines, amongst others.
SIRO’s Director of Corporate Affairs Amanda Glancy, commented:
Pictured at Killarney Innovation Centre from left: Sean Counihan, Chair of Killarney Innovation Centre, Ronan Whelan, Chief Commercial Officer, SIRO, Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Chris Stagg, Consumer Director, Vodafone Ireland. Photo: Pauline Dennigan[/caption]
Since its establishment in the late 1990s, the Killarney Innovation Centre has been a cornerstone of Munster’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Housing a diverse array of companies—ranging from financial treasury solutions and software development to sports statistical analysis and health & safety consultancy—the Centre has become a pivotal hub for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation in the area. Over the past two decades, more than 120 businesses have found a home within its walls, collectively creating thousands of jobs, stimulating local supply chains, and significantly contributing to the local economy.
The Killarney Innovation Centre joins over 20 leading digital hubs across Ireland, including Galway’s PorterShed, Skibbereen’s Ludgate Hub, and Dundalk’s Creative Spark, in benefiting from Vodafone-SIRO’s Gigabit Hub initiative.
By joining the Gigabit Hub initiative, the Centre will now provide its residents with access to Gigabit full fibre broadband, ensuring they have the state-of-the-art connectivity needed to excel in today’s digital economy.
As a not-for-profit organisation, the Killarney Innovation Centre has consistently offered a nurturing environment for start-ups, SMEs, and established businesses. With high-quality facilities, including flexible office spaces, co-working areas, and modern meeting rooms, the Centre has played a crucial role in driving economic development and job creation in the region.
Integrating SIRO’s Gigabit broadband will greatly enhance the Centre’s capabilities, offering unparalleled internet speeds that support advanced technological applications such as AI, Big Data, or Cloud computing, and seamless global communication. This upgrade will attract more start-ups and established businesses to Killarney, further stimulating economic growth and innovation.
As the business landscape evolves, the Killarney Innovation Centre remains dedicated to expanding and adapting its services. Future plans include a significant expansion of the hub’s size, advanced co-working spaces, and additional meeting and conference rooms equipped with the latest audiovisual technology.
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD speaking at the launch event noted:
SIRO already enjoys a strong and growing footprint across Laois and the wider Midlands. This includes over 11,000 premises on the SIRO network in Portlaoise, 5,500 premises passed in Tullamore and large network in other key midlands towns including Athlone, Mullingar and Carlow.
SIRO, now Ireland’s second largest fibre broadband operator, is on track to reach over 700,000 premises in towns and cities across Ireland by 2026. Currently, more than 600,000 premises in 135 towns and cities across the country have access to the SIRO network. Overall, SIRO is investing over €1 billion to deliver high-speed, future-proofed broadband throughout Ireland.
Commenting on SIRO’s network rollout in Portarlington, SIRO Chief Executive Officer John Keaney said: