SIRO announces 6 new towns

SIRO to invest €40 million in rollout to 6 new towns by end of 2016

SIRO, the open-access broadband provider delivering Ireland’s first 100% fibre-optic broadband network to 50 towns nationwide, has announced that it will invest €40 million to expand its rollout to its next six locations – Mullingar, Newbridge, Ennis, Portlaoise, Drogheda and Carlow. As a result, services will be live or construction work will be underway in 17 towns across the country by the end of the year – Dundalk, Cavan, Carrigaline, Sligo, Letterkenny, Tralee, Wexford, Drogheda, Westport, Castlebar, Mullingar, Newbridge, Ennis, Ratheniska, Carlow and Skibbereen. SIRO’s 100% fibre optic broadband network is having a transformative effect in regional towns where services are live, with regional towns like Tralee and Sligo gaining the same level of connectivity as international hubs like Tokyo and Hong Kong. SIRO towns are able to attract investment and encourage more people to live and work within their local community. For example, the Skibbereen community which came together to launch their Ludgate Hub - powered by SIRO 1 Gigabit connectivity- aims to create 500 jobs in five years in the West Cork region and provide a multi-million euro boost to the local economy. Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO, said: “Since we started construction in August last year, we have received a fantastic response in our roll out towns. We are delighted to add six new fibrehoods to our network build. We are now passing 10,000 premises per month and working in 17 towns. SIRO gives consumers and businesses in regional Ireland access to far better services than that available in Dublin and other cities, thus reversing the digital divide and allowing them to compete more effectively for investment and jobs. It is our ambition to become Ireland’s new national Telecoms infrastructure. We have plans for a second phase which covers over 300 smaller towns and we are shortlisted for the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) which aims to deliver high speed access to all citizens by 2020. We believe that Fibre-to-the-Building is the only solution capable of future proofing Ireland’s needs.” With 25% of Irish fixed broadband connections currently offering speeds of less than 10 Mbps, SIRO is a step-change in connectivity for regional Ireland. SIRO’s 100% fibre-to-the-building 1 Gigabit service is three times faster than the best service available in Dublin and over 10 times the best service available in the rest of Ireland. SIRO’s €450m network will meet the needs of Irish Internet users, now and in the future. Using the existing ESB network, SIRO is delivered by fibre optic cables all the way to the building. This technology, known as “FTTB”, has no copper connections at any point to slow down the network and delivers 1 Gigabit download and upload speeds. For example, a high definition film (4GB) takes one hour to download with a 10 Mbps connection - with SIRO it will take 30 seconds. SIRO is offered on an open-access basis to all telecoms retailers in Ireland. Last month SIRO revealed Digiweb will offer services via its 100% fibre-optic Gigabit broadband network, joining Vodafone as its second retail partner. Discussions with other retail partners are ongoing. 1 Comreg Quarterly data, Q2 2016

The small and picturesque village of Ratheniska in County Laois is famous for many things despite its size. It has a vibrant Ratheniska National School of 114 boys and 118 girls that dates back to 1824.

It is home to a proud GAA Football and Hurling Club (Park Ratheniska) that caters for young and senior players who compete nationally. And, on top of all this, it is also famous for being the host three years in a row to Ireland’s largest outdoor event: The National Ploughing Championships. This is a community which revels in being centre stage. This is a community that lives life to the full and it doesn't let it's location or size hold it back. And that’s why it is the perfect fit for SIRO’s first rural village transformation. This unique country village is now also famous for having broadband speeds that are as fast as the fastest broadband speeds in the world’s most advanced cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo. From teachers, to farmers and graphic designers, people of all ages in Ratheniska are now enjoying the the possibilities and opportunities of broadband that is decades ahead of other networks. From showcasing the best in Irish farming, food and culture in The Ploughing Championships, Ratheniska is now showcasing one of the world’s fastest broadband speeds. And there’s no better community of people and ambitions who will use the power of SIRO to take on the rest of the country and the world in ways we never thought possible. There are so many potential transformations that come with SIRO for a rural community such as Ratheniska. One such story is that of Gillian Reidy, the Creative Director of a graphic design agency called Penhouse Designs in Ratheniska. Having first started her business on the bustling streets of Dawson St in Dublin she then moved out to Ratheniska to marry her husband and to live on their farm. Now with 1 Gigabit connectivity, guaranteed speeds and instant access, SIRO has transformed her home and work life and put her on a level playing field with Dublin and beyond. As Gillian herself notes the effect for her industry and others all around regional Ireland: [quote author="Gillian Reidy" position="Creative Director, Penhouse Design" image="890"]In the design industry, technology is always advancing, so it’s really important for us that, just because of our countryside location, we’re not left behind. SIRO is going to improve our responsiveness to clients on a daily basis.[/quote] Ratheniska is now famous for one of the fastest broadband speeds in the world. We look on with excitement to see how that capability will lead to their next famous attribute, event, business, education or sporting achievement. From the young boys and the girls in the National School, to their future grandkids, SIRO will be helping to empower them to live life to the fullest in Ratheniska and to continue to reach for the stars. It’s in their DNA and history. A history which SIRO is now proud to be a part of. Pauline Dunne, Principal of Ratheniska National School, notes the powerful effects of SIRO for her school and for future schools: [quote author="Pauline Dunne" position="Principal, Ratheniska National School" image="893"]Since September 2015 Ratheniska National School has been privileged to be part of SIRO’s High Speed Broadband pilot. The availability and reliability of this type of connectivity has provided the school with opportunities to deliver teaching and learning in a powerful and more authentic way.[/quote] Pauline continued, "We now have the luxury of not just an abundance of information at our disposal but also the reliability of access. Students have developed key skills in managing information from multiple perspectives.  High speed broadband has given the students opportunities to work autonomously with new information,  developing skills in sourcing and editing information. Students have learned key skills in presenting information collaboratively, as well as coding skills. In many curricular areas pupils now direct their own learning and they have also had  opportunities to share their learning pupil-to-pupil in a the wider world through Skype. High speed broadband has  been the singularly most significant agent of change in how we deliver learning in school. Learning in this context is authentic, autonomous and powerful".

Over the last decade many towns and villages in West Cork, and across Ireland, have been hurt badly by the recession and emigration. Young people move to the cities for work and to launch business ideas.

Bright ideas and minds are lost. Not to mention the effect on the social community, the GAA Clubs and life in rural Ireland. But one village is the first to buck the trend. And in more ways than one. This year we saw the two brother rowers from Skibbereen show the world that they can compete and win big in the Olympics. The drive and positivity of the two O’Donovan brothers were seen as a tonic for the nation and rural Ireland. One other tonic which is already up and transforming Skibbereen and its surrounding area is that of SIRO. Around the same time as the start of the Olympics, SIRO came to Skibbereen in the form of The Ludgate Hub: a 1 Gigabit digital hub for entrepreneurs and businesses that is helping to launch a new digital age for West Cork. Just as the brothers took on the world, the workers and business launchers of the Ludgate Hub are now taking on the world. With the fastest broadband speeds in not only the country but on par with that in Tokyo and Hong Kong, Skibbereen is no longer lagging behind. The Ludgate Hub, originally a cinema in 1941, is now a 10,000 square foot digital hub which is creating a new entrepreneurial eco-system in West Cork. There are now over 30 people working hard and fast in the Ludgate Hub. And it is seeking to create 500 jobs in the next 5 years, with a multi-million euro boost to the local economy. But it’s not just about the jobs it brings. The hub is also helping to bring home Irish emgrants such as David Carroll, a Skibbereen native who returned from Marbella with his wife and two children. Having guaranteed broadband speeds that are assured for decades to come is also attracting non-Irish natives from all over the world. Jane and Evan Sims have now moved all the way to Skibbereen from Chicago; and Christopher Mason has come from the Hollywood land of Los Angeles to this new kind of big screen magic: The Ludgate Hub. But it’s not just about the jobs it brings. James Long relocated his company, Our Valiance, from Silicon Valley to Skibbereen for a more balanced lifestyle. All made possible by SIRO connectivity in the Ludgate Hub. As Sean Atkinson, CEO of SIRO summarised the effects of SIRO on a rural community such as Skibbereen: “The launch of the Ludgate Hub is the moment that life in Skibbereen changes forever as it opens up a new world of possibilities. We have already seen people and businesses relocating to Skibbereen from places like Barcelona and Chicago in anticipation of the launch, which just goes to show how important 100% fibre optic broadband technology is in attracting investment in rural Ireland." [quote author="Sean Atkinson" position="CEO, SIRO" image="1053"] As a Gigabit town, Skibbereen’s young people have the potential to create the next Google or Facebook right here rather than having to move to urban areas to fulfil their ambition.[/quote] Skibbereen is simply a microcosm of the transformative effect that SIRO can have in small towns and on a national basis. SIRO allows all sorts of businesses to compete on a level playing field nationally and internationally. Businesses can develop e-commerce platforms and sell to the world. Students can access international educational opportunities. And farmers can engage with international specialists and learn new methods. The tide is turning. And Skibbereen is rowing for victory. Once again.

Digiweb Launches 1 Gigabit Broadband Service In Partnership With SIRO

SIRO, the open-access wholesale broadband provider delivering Ireland’s first 100% fibre-optic broadband network to 50 towns nationwide, has announced that Digiweb has become its second retail partner. Digiweb will now launch a number of 100% fibre optic broadband packages for both residential and business customers, with speeds ranging from 150 Megabits per second (Mbps) to one Gigabit per second (Gbps), with pricing from as little as €45 per month. Digiweb’s “Electric Broadband” services will go live in Dundalk, Letterkenny and Drogheda during 2016, before Digiweb increases its availability across the country as SIRO’s rollout continues. SIRO’s differentiator is that it is a 100% fibre-optic internet connection, making it better than any other broadband infrastructure in Ireland, with no copper connection at any point in the network. SIRO’s Gigabit connectivity, is three times as powerful as the market leading service in Dublin and 10 times as powerful as the market leading service in rural Ireland. The 100% fibre-optic broadband network is already helping to reverse the digital divide in rural areas, with the recent launch of the Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen illustrating the impact of Gigabit connectivity. The roll out of SIRO will help to boost Ireland’s rural economy facilitating reliable services like remote working and will foster and maintain a strong local startup community. Skibbereen, with its recently launched Ludgate Hub, is one such town that has seen the impact of strong connectivity, which will bring the same level of connectivity as leading international business hubs like Hong Kong and Tokyo. Commenting about the partnership with Digiweb, Sean Atkinson, Chief Executive of SIRO, said: “Our partnership with Digiweb illustrates how SIRO is driving competition in Ireland’s broadband marketplace. Our network is better than the alternatives as it is powered entirely by light, future-proofing the country’s broadband needs for decades. Our ambition is to become the new national telecoms infrastructure. We want to migrate Ireland from legacy copper based networks to 100% fibre-optic networks, this will ensure that people across the country can avail of next generation services and drive the economy forward.” Declan Campbell, Managing Director of Digiweb, added: “This is a different kind of internet and we are delighted to be offering our customers the choice. It will be great to be able to offer our customers SIRO powered broadband packages of up to 1Gbps, enabling us to deliver one of the most powerful broadband services available in Ireland. On a number of levels the introduction of this service will differentiate us from most of the competition. With the quality of service and support Digiweb offer our customer base, this product will set us apart from the market. As one of the first broadband retailers to offer services on the SIRO network, this is the latest milestone as part of our strategy of delivering the best broadband experience in the country.” Customers interested in availing of Digiweb’s SIRO powered products should log onto www.digiweb.ie.

What does Skibbereen have to say about broadband?

We asked the people of Skibbereen what high-speed fibre optic broadband would mean to them, for their lives and businesses and this is what they had to say: [embed]https://youtu.be/StOhZff91VA[/embed]

Stephen O'Connor discusses SIRO's Cavan rollout

Following the announcement that the SIRO rollout has commenced in Cavan town, SIRO Corporate Affairs Director Stephen O'Connor spoke with Northern Sound. Topics of discussion included reversing the digital divide and making regional towns more competitive. Have a listen here.

What does Drogheda have to say about broadband?

We asked the people of Drogheda what high-speed fibre optic broadband would mean to them, for their lives and businesses and this is what they had to say: [embed]https://youtu.be/JVSKo5b4YNk[/embed]

Tralee is now SIRO-powered with 100% fibre optic broadband network

SIRO, the ESB-Vodafone joint venture which is delivering Ireland’s first 100% fibre-optic broadband network to 50 towns nationwide, has today announced that its Tralee rollout has commenced with over 1,000 premises passed to date. The announcement was made at Ballygarry House Hotel in association with the Tralee Chamber Alliance. Tralee is the first town in Kerry that will receive the service, with Killarney also due to be connected as part of the first phase of SIRO’s rollout to 50 regional towns. SIRO’s Gigabit broadband network is three times as powerful as the market leading service in Dublin and ten times as powerful as the market leading service in rural Ireland. The 100% fibre optic service is powered by light, making it different and better than anything other broadband infrastructure in Ireland, with no copper connection at any point in the network. It will transform the internet experience of SMEs, remote workers and consumers in Tralee. A high definition film (4GB) takes one hour to download with a 10mbps connection - with SIRO it will take 30 seconds. 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. Tralee residents and businesses will be able to purchase broadband powered by SIRO from companies such as Vodafone, enabling them to avail of a future proofed service. Welcoming the rollout of SIRO, Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council said, “Kerry County Council welcomes this event. It is very positive for the County of Kerry that a new competitive player has entered the Kerry broadband market. Kerry County Council will continue to work with all providers to roll out broadband which is essential to the growth of Kerry into the future.” Kieran Ruttledge, CEO of the Tralee Chamber Alliance said, “We welcome the announcement by SIRO that it will deliver a 100% fibre broadband network to Tralee. The existence of leading communications infrastructure is vital to businesses in Tralee, supporting their future growth and development. SIRO in Tralee will mean that businesses here can compete on a level playing field with counterparts not only in Ireland, but internationally and will be vital in attracting further investment to the town.” Sean Atkinson, CEO of SIRO, added: “SIRO is broadband at its best and our aim is to deliver a Gigabit society in Ireland. The rollout will have as big an impact as rural electrification and will change how people live and work forever. Our network is different and better than any other technology as it is powered entirely by light, future-proofing Kerry’s broadband needs for decades. We will enable Tralee to compete for foreign direct investment, enable local entrepreneurs to create the next Google or Facebook and let the public avail of next generation services in areas like education, health and remote working.”

This is the moment life in Tralee will change forever

Want to hear more about the benefits of our 100% fibre optic network? We're hosting a public town hall event in Ballygarry House, Leebrook Tralee on Friday 15th July at 8am. Come along and see how SIRO can transform how you live and work in Tralee. RSVP at info@sirobroadband.wpengine.com.

What does Tralee have to say about broadband?

We asked the people of Tralee what high-speed fibre optic broadband would mean to them, for their lives and businesses and this is what they had to say: [embed]https://youtu.be/tYfoOF-9WzY?list=PLTYrnmgB8uRWlOVxJIVF2Hhu50cm50uI_[/embed]