SIRO Selects Carrigaline

Carrigaline Unveiled As Cork’s First SIRO-Powered Town – 40 Jobs Created.

Carrigaline will be the first of seven Cork locations to receive 1 Gigabit Internet connectivity. SIRO, the ESB-Vodafone joint venture which is delivering Ireland’s first 100% fibre-optic broadband network to 50 towns nationwide, has today unveiled Carrigaline as Cork’s first SIRO-powered town. The announcement was made at an event in the Carrigaline Court Hotel in association with Cork County Council and the Local Enterprise Office, South Cork. The announcement was made by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD. The rollout of SIRO’s network is currently underway in Carrigaline town and services will be available from broadband retailers this winter. The rollout of SIRO’s network will also be extended to Ballincollig, Cobh, Mallow, Midleton, Little Island and Cork city. TLI Group has been awarded the contract to work with SIRO to build the 100% fibre-optic broadband network and they have created 40 jobs for six months as a result of the work. SIRO’s key differentiator is that it is a 100% fibre-optic internet connection, making it different and better than any other broadband infrastructure in Ireland, with no copper connection at any point in the network. It will transform the internet experience of businesses, community organisations and consumers in Carrigaline.  For example, a high definition film (4GB) takes one hour to download with a 10mbps internet connection, with SIRO it will take 30 seconds. SIRO’s 100% fibre 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 will enable each community that is part of its network to take avail of the latest developments in areas like eCommerce and telemedicine, which will encourage more people to pursue of business opportunities, establish new companies and take advantage of remote working. Better connectivity is a key factor for attracting investment to regions and SIRO’s 100% fibre optic broadband network will put towns like Carrigaline on a par with leading international hubs like Tokyo and Hong Kong. Commenting at the launch, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD said; "It's great news that Carrigaline has been selected as the first town in Munster to be connected to SIRO’s 100% fibre optic broadband network. Not only will this development help attract investment, boost competitiveness and encourage entrepreneurs to set up online businesses, it will also create 40 jobs in Cork during the rollout phase. SIRO will have a transformative effect on Carrigaline by giving our young people better online learning opportunities, enabling more flexible working conditions for residents and better services in homes.  This development by SIRO complements the Government’s own plans to deliver fibre broadband to more than 1,000 rural communities as part of the National Broadband Plan." [quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]“We’re delighted that Carrigaline will be the first town in Munster to be connected to SIRO’s 100% fibre optic network, with another six towns in Cork included in the first phase of our rollout.”[/quote] Sean Atkinson, the CEO of SIRO commented; "Every premises in Carrigaline will receive a 1 Gigabit broadband connection, futureproofing them for the internet services of the future. This means that Carrigaline businesses and residents will have a broadband service that is four times faster than what is available in Dublin and on a par with the most advanced cities in the world.  This will play a key role in securing a brighter digital future for Carrigaline, which we are very proud to be a part of." Cllr. Seamus McGrath of Cork County Council who chaired the event said he is; "Delighted SIRO has selected Carrigaline as one of the first towns to roll out its super powerful, 100% fibre to the building broadband.  This presents a great opportunity for Carrigaline and that he has no doubt that it will be a very valuable addition to the local infrastructure.” Today’s announcement follows the August announcement of Skibbereen as a test area for the second phase of SIRO’s rollout.  SIRO is also providing 1Gb connectivity to Ludgate Hub an initiative in Skibbereen which aims to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the West Cork region. SIRO is investing €450 million in building Ireland’s first 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network, offering 1 Gigabit connectivity to 500,000 premises in fifty regional towns, revolutionising the broadband market in Ireland. The service, which will be built on the existing electrical network, will be made available on a wholesale basis to all telecoms retailers. The rollout of SIRO’s network is already currently underway in Sligo city and Dundalk town.  All homeowners and businesspeople in Carrigaline who are interested in receiving updates on the rollout of SIRO should register for further details here.

Ratheniska, Co. Laois Revealed As Location For SIRO’s Rural Broadband Pilot By European Commissioner Phil Hogan.

100% fibre Optic broadband connectivity to be provided by SIRO to enable one Gigabit broadband infrastructure in Ratheniska. European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan has today announced that SIRO, the ESB-Vodafone joint venture which is delivering Ireland’s first 100% fibre-optic broadband network to 50 regional towns nationwide, has selected Ratheniska, Co. Laois – home of the National Ploughing Championships – as the location for a rural broadband pilot programme. SIRO has chosen Ratheniska as a pilot village to evaluate the potential for rolling out the SIRO network to rural areas in a future phase. 17 premises have been connected to the SIRO network, including 14 homes, Ratheniska National School, the Community Hall and Park Ratheniska GAA club. Announcing the pilot programme in Ratheniska at the National Ploughing Championships, Hogan commented; "The prioritisation of high speed broadband for rural areas is a key objective for his mandate as the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. It is vital that the digital gap between urban and rural areas is closed as high speed broadband connectivity is a major factor for the long term sustainability of rural communities. A future proofed fibre optic broadband network like SIRO’s will enable remote working for people living in rural areas, empower the farming community to take advantage of the latest technological trends and encourage more people to establish online businesses in every corner of Ireland." Sean Atkinson, CEO of SIRO, added; "SIRO's 100% fibre-optic broadband network will revolutionise Ratheniska’s broadband experience and put the village on a par with cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo in terms of connectivity." [quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]“Access to our one Gigabit network means that Ratheniska’s broadband infrastructure will be four times more powerful than Dublin. This investment by SIRO is an important complement to the Government’s National Broadband Plan, by a commercial operator, and will further increase the quality of Ireland’s broadband services.”[/quote] Ratheniska was selected due to its proximity to both the national telecommunications hub and the ESB training centre in Portlaoise, its accessibility and its diverse demographic and occupational profile. Participants in the trial will experience 1 Gigabit connectivity, revolutionising the village’s experience of broadband due to SIRO’s key differentiator of 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. For example, a high definition film (4GB) takes one hour to download with a 10mbps internet connection, with SIRO it will take 30 seconds. SIRO’s 100% fibre 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 will enable each community that is part of its network to take avail of the latest developments in areas like eCommerce, remote working and telemedicine, which will encourage more people to live in rural communities, take advantage of business opportunities and establish new companies. The demands of feeding a growing global population represent an exciting opportunity for Irish farmers, SMEs and local industry at the forefront. To meet this challenge, higher yields, better productivity and a greater marriage between traditional farming methods and cutting-edge technology will need to be achieved. However, the new farming applications and smart agriculture that will fuel this growth requires better connectivity and SIRO’s 100% fibre optic broadband network will put rural villages like Ratheniska on a par with leading international hubs like Tokyo and Hong Kong. Sign up for SIRO roll-out updates here.

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 Sligo will become the first SIRO-powered town in Connaught.

SIRO's plans were presented at an event in Sligo City Hall, in association with Sligo County Council, Sligo Chamber of Commerce and the Sligo Local Enterprise Office on Monday 14^th September. The roll-out of SIRO’s network is currently underway in Sligo and services will be available from broadband retailers later this year. SIRO’s key differentiator is that it is a 100% fibre-optic internet connection, making it different and better than any other broadband infrastructure in Ireland, with no copper connection at any point in the network. This will mean that consumers, businesses, community groups and service providers such as hospitals and schools will be able to avail of a one GigaBit internet connection. It will transform the internet experience of SMEs, remote workers and consumers in Sligo. A high definition film (4GB) takes one hour to download with a 10mbps connection, with SIRO it will take 30 seconds. Rosaleen O'Grady, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said; "The provision of this high speed broadband infrastructure for Sligo is wonderful news. It comes hot on the heels of a diverse range of highly positive developments for Sligo in recent times, ranging from the Cannon Ball Run and the World Boat Angling Championships last weekend, the Fleadh a few weeks ago, the work among Sligo businesses to introduce a Business Improvement District or BIDs in cooperation with Sligo County Council. Other recent events such as Yeats Day, Yeats Tread Softly and An Post tour of Sligo and the launch of several wonderful walkways into which the Council has put so much effort and which will enhance our tourism product even further. This infrastructure to add significantly to Sligo’s deserved and growing reputation as a prime location for business, including in the ever growing business sector which requires world-class broadband access. And all of this in a setting that is second to none!" David Kiely, President of Sligo Chamber of Commerce said; "The Chamber has been campaigning for some time for enhanced broadband at both a Town and County level. The introduction of this infrastructure into Sligo is a very significant boost to both existing and future industry and enterprise which will benefit all of the Sligo community. As the Chamber continues to advocate for Sligo as a location for foreign direct and indigenous investment, the availability of this infrastructure will add greatly to Sligo’s overall value proposition." Sean Atkinson, CEO of SIRO said; "SIRO is delighted that Sligo will be the next location as part of our rollout. Atkinson continued "As a result it will help to bring more investment to Sligo.  Similarly it will lead to people being able to access the latest online services online in areas like education and remote working. This will play a key role for a brighter digital future for Sligo, which we are very proud to be a part of." [quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]“We will revolutionise people’s experience of broadband with 100% fibre optic network, which delivers fibre broadband directly to the home, without the need for copper, delivering speeds of one GigaBit. This will have a transformational effect on Sligo as anyone starting a business will be able to compete not just at a national level, but at an international level.”[/quote] John Reilly, Head of Sligo Local Enterprise Office also commented; "The roll-out of SIRO in Sligo is particularly welcome news for Sligo businesses. It will position Sligo to fully engage in the ICT economy and will offer many businesses an opportunity to truly transform their current business model. They will be able to take full advantage of the internet and increase their turnover and profitability by selling more in the domestic and overseas markets. Sligo Local Enterprise Office  has been working constructively with SIRO for a number of months in conjunction with other colleagues in Sligo County Council and we are committed to assisting them to the fullest degree possible in rolling out and promoting this new and vital infrastructure.” Register your interest in SIRO here.

SIRO has today announced a pilot programme for a potential second phase of its network rollout, in response to the positive reaction the company has received since its launch in May.

The pilot programme will involve two ‘test’ areas - a small-medium sized town (Skibbereen, Co. Cork) and one rural location in Ireland. Its purpose is to evaluate the potential for a second phase of SIRO’s network roll-out. SIRO will announce the rural location which will form part of the pilot in the coming weeks. The selection of Skibbereen as a test area is on the basis that the town has approximately 1,000 premises and is not currently served by high-speed broadband. This is the type of town that SIRO may target as part of a potential second phase of its rollout into the future. SIRO trials will be conducted in Skibbereen in 2016. Today SIRO also announced that it has also been selected to provide 1GB connectivity to Ludgate Hub an initiative in Skibbereen which aims to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the West Cork region. [quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]This pilot opportunity will allow us to investigate the potential of whether to proceed with a second phase of our 100% fibre network roll-out to smaller towns nationwide and we look forward to getting feedback from pilot participants in Skibbereen.[/quote] Sean Atkinson CEO of SIRO said; "Skibbereen has a fantastic business ecosystem and SIRO is delighted to provide 1GB fibre connectivity to the Ludgate Hub. It is the ideal test-bed to match some of Ireland’s brightest entrepreneurial minds with the most advanced 100% fibre optic broadband technology in Ireland." SIRO will announce its rural test location as part of this pilot programme in the coming weeks. SIRO is currently rolling out to 50 large regional towns nationwide, with construction work already underway in Dundalk, Co. Louth.

Dundalk unveiled as Ireland’s first SIRO-powered town. Construction underway with 1Gigabit Internet service available from autumn this year.

SIRO, the ESB-Vodafone joint venture which is delivering Ireland’s first 100% fibre-optic broadband network to 50 towns nationwide, has today unveiled Dundalk as Ireland’s first SIRO-powered town. The announcement was made at an event in Louth County Museum in Dundalk, in association with Louth County Council, which was officially opened by Minister of State for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD. The roll-out of SIRO’s network is currently underway in Dundalk and services will be available from broadband retailers from autumn this year. We have commenced construction on the network with a trial for over 800 homes in the Coes Road area, going live in September, before the service becomes commercially available in the following weeks. Over the coming months we will connect over 18,500 premises to SIRO, revolutionising the broadband experience in the area to shine brighter. SIRO’s key differentiator is that it is a 100% fibre-optic internet connection, making it different and better than any other broadband infrastructure in Ireland, with no copper connection at any point in the network. This will mean that consumers, businesses, community groups and service providers such as hospitals and schools will be able to avail of 1 GB internet connection. It will transform the internet experience of SMEs, remote workers and consumers in Dundalk. A high definition film (4GB) takes one hour to download with a 10mbps connection, with SIRO it will take 30 seconds. [gallery ids="268,269"] Commenting at the launch, Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash said; "It's great news that Dundalk has been selected as the first town to receive SIRO’s services. This development will help attract investment, boost competitiveness and help entrepreneurs to set up online businesses. Such high speed broadband should also allow for more flexible working conditions for residents and better services in homes. This development by SIRO complements the Government’s own plans to deliver fibre broadband to more than 1,000 rural communities as part of the National Broadband Plan." Cllr. Maria Doyle, Chairperson of Dundalk Municipal District also commented; "On completion, the 100% fibre optic network will be another string to Dundalk’s bow. We have successfully attracted multinationals to our town in recent years and she hopes that SIRO will assist in us attracting further foreign direct investment as well as allowing indigenous companies and SMEs to grow their businesses. SIRO will be of immense use to educators locally at all levels also." Sean Atkinson, CEO of SIRO stated; "SIRO will revolutionise the broadband experience in Dundalk town. Our 100% fibre optic network, which delivers fibre broadband directly to the home, without the need for copper, provides speeds of 1 GB. [quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]“It will mean that students will be able send large files instantly, that families can download a movie in a few seconds and that working from home is a real prospect for employees. It will mean a completely new internet for Dundalk. Dundalk has a vibrant local economy and a growing digital future, which we are delighted to be a part of.”[/quote] Atkinson notes this is a first for Ireland, stating; "SIRO will mean that anyone starting a business in Dundalk will be able to compete not just at a national level, but at an international level."

Cavan town named as one of the first launch towns for ESB and Vodafone’s 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network.

At a meeting hosted in Cavan County Council by Shane P. O’Reilly, Chair of Cavan County Council; and Ger Finn, Chief Executive of Cavan County Council; and attended by Heather Humphries, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht today, Vodafone and ESB presented details of their plans to deliver SIRO 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network to Cavan town this autumn. SIRO's 100% fibre-to-the-building technology is completely different to any other broadband service in Ireland as it is an entirely new infrastructure 100% based on optical fibre. The new infrastructure can offer actual broadband speeds of 1000 Mbps, and has potential for even higher speeds as future technologies come online. When the service launches in Cavan, it will put the town on a par for broadband with some of the most advanced cities in the world like Tokyo and Hong Kong. ESB and Vodafone selected Cavan as the first town to trial the technology last year. 300 homes in Aughnaskerry and Rocklands estates had the SIRO 100% fibre-to-the-building technology installed. Participants in the trial are able to experience the most powerful broadband in Ireland. The technology will open up a new world of possibilities for Cavan town residents and businesses. There has been a very positive reaction to the trial to date, with over 80% of participants believing the service is superior to existing services, 50% of participants believing that it will help to make Cavan more attractive as a location for Foreign Direct Investment and over 50% of the trial participants also believe that it will encourage more people in Cavan to set up their own online business. ESB and Vodafone are investing €450 million in SIRO joint venture, which will use ESB’s existing electricity infrastructure to deliver the fibre-to-the-building network across the country. Construction on the open access network, which will be available to all authorised broadband operators in the country, will commence this summer, before becoming available to consumers and businesses in the autumn. 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 100% fibre-to-the-building network will initially reach 500,000 premises in 50 towns in phase one. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys TD said; "Cavan’s selection as one of the launch towns for ESB and Vodafone’s broadband joint venture is a very positive development for the town. This service, when it begins rolling out in autumn, will help to attract investment, boost competitiveness and make it easier for entrepreneurs to expand their businesses online. By having access to broadband at such high speeds, Cavan will be on a par for broadband with some of the world’s leading cities. This investment by Vodafone and ESB is an important complement to the Government’s National Broadband Plan and will further increase the quality of Ireland’s broadband services." Ger Finn, Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, said; "I am delighted that Cavan will be one of the first towns in the country to receive this leading broadband service. It will be an important boost for Cavan’s SMEs and professionals for whom working from home will now become a real option. It will also mean that residents in Cavan will be in a position to access the kinds of services that not been available to date. Finn says he is looking forward to seeing the service roll out later this year and I credit ESB and Vodafone for delivering the service to Cavan." [quote author="Sean Atkinson, SIRO CEO" image="160"]We are delighted that Cavan will be one of the first towns in Ireland to experience this revolutionary technology. There has been a fantastic reception from Aughnaskerry and Rocklands residents, who are the first people in Ireland to experience a new type of broadband, which is powered entirely by light.[/quote] Sean Atkinson, CEO of ESB and Vodafone’s Joint Venture Company, said; "Businesses in Cavan town will be on the same playing field as the most cutting edge cities in the world, providing a vital boost for the local economy. The project brings together two leading international companies – ESB and Vodafone – with the technological expertise and infrastructural experience to make available the kind of future-proofed broadband service which will be a crucial element for Ireland’s future competitiveness. Cavan and the forty nine other towns involved in the first phase will have access to the most powerful broadband in the country, making it more attractive for companies to consider investing in Ireland and helping to develop a new generation of online entrepreneurs in Cavan and beyond.”