Ardee Latest Louth Town To Benefit From SIRO Gigabit Broadband

SIRO, Ireland's leading fibre broadband network operator, has announced the expansion of its high-speed network to Ardee in County Louth. SIRO’s build in the town is underway and is set to connect over 1,500 premises in the town by the end of March 2024. SIRO’s full fibre broadband is already available to over 24,000 premises in Louth in towns such as Dundalk and Drogheda  Areas in Ardee joining SIRO’s fibre network include Campbell’s Park, Dawson's Demesne, John Street, Stoney Lane, Cloughan Bridge, Cloughanvary, Rockfield, Heathergate, Sliabh Breag, Drogheda Road, and  Rathgory.   The construction phase in the town commenced in December 2023, with over 400 premises in Hale Street, Moorehall, Clonmore, The Orchard, Mount View and Dawson's Demesne already live on SIRO’s network.  SIRO has continuously expanded its network throughout County Louth since the first premises in Dundalk were connected to its 100% fibre broadband in 2015. In Dundalk SIRO’s network now reaches over 13,778 premises. More recently, works have been ongoing in Drogheda where now 10,244 homes and businesses have access to fibre broadband. With a network which reaches over 24,000 premises in the County; it means that over 70,000 Louth residents can now avail of SIRO’s fibre broadband offering speeds of up to 2 Gigabits.    The roll-out of a full fibre broadband network in Ardee is part of SIRO’s ongoing network expansion, targeting more than 700,000 premises in towns and cities across Ireland by 2026.   To date, over 550,000 premises in 135 towns across the country can access the SIRO network. The company is investing more than €1 billion in delivering high speed, future proofed broadband across Ireland.  SIRO John Keaney Chief Executive Officer, noted:   

"Since SIRO first began rolling out Gigabit broadband to Louth residents in 2015, we have experienced huge demand for reliable and trustworthy connectivity from individuals, communities and businesses in Louth.  “Our expansion into Ardee reflects our continued commitment to delivering high-speed, future-proofed broadband and to make advanced connectivity accessible to even more Louth households and businesses."

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Thursday 19th of October marks National Women's Enterprise Day. This enterprise event promotes, encourages and stimulates female entrepreneurship across Ireland. In celebration of National Women's Enterprise Day, we spoke to Lorraine Gribbons, Managing Director at Fastcom, who talks us through the challenges and rewards of her journey as an entrepreneur.

Background of Business

Founded in 2004, Fastcom is one of Ireland's largest independently owned telecoms providers with customers across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and the US. The company partners with over ten infrastructure providers to offer the widest range of broadband connectivity and communications solutions to customers in various sectors, including government, healthcare, retail, logistics, and education. Fastcom is one of SIRO's retail partners and has over 1,500 customers across Ireland.

Tell us about your business?

Our business is Fastcom Broadband, a telecoms provider based in Sligo and serving customers across the country. We serve the business and domestic markets, providing broadband, phone and cyber security services. We have a huge range of customers of various sizes and operating in many different industries. We cater for all and can provide the flexibility that many of our larger competitors cannot, especially for our business customers.

What motivated you to start your own business?

My husband, Ross, started Fastcom back in 2004. I was working in Dublin training with KPMG to be a Chartered Accountant at the time. I moved back to Sligo and worked in an accountancy practice as a manager for several years before joining Fastcom in 2016. I was always involved in the background from when the business was set up, taking the next step to become CEO was the next step for me. It has been so personally rewarding to see Fastcom grow throughout the years to where we are now.

What has been the biggest challenge or learning for you?

I suppose my biggest challenge was that I was an accountant and not a "techie" and was operating in a very technical industry. In my training as a Chartered Accountant, I would have seen a wide range of clients, so I had great exposure on the side of running a business. Still, it did take me a while to get my head around the technical side of the business. We are fortunate to have a great team here now who have the expertise and skills necessary to keep that side running smoothly all the time.

What advice would you give women thinking about starting their own business?

I think just to go for it. If starting a business and working for yourself is something you are passionate about, you have to give it a go. It can be tricky sometimes, but the rewards are more than worth it.

Finally, as a company's CEO providing broadband connectivity, what are the key ways technology can help women in business?

One key element is the flexibility it can provide for working. Everyone experienced that when COVID hit, and we all had to make the shift and work remotely from what we would all have known as a standard office environment. Connectivity unlocks technology that can make all our lives easier. From the perspective of running a business and juggling all the responsibilities that come with that have a secure fibre broadband connection is a first step. From there, there are multiple digital tools which can help to enhance your productivity and allowing you to focus on business priorities vs. getting weighed down with important but time-consuming administrative tasks. AI is just one really exciting tool which is now beginning to gain traction and become embedded in business, and which is likely to really change how business operates – but in a positive way! To read more on SIRO's sustainability efforts and how we encourage equity in the workplace, click here.

At SIRO, we understand the needs and requirements of broadband for businesses across Ireland. Whether you're uploading files and data to the cloud, to using EPOS systems in a busy restaurant, we provide a full scalable broadband to suit your business. We sat down with Kieran Clifford of Island Computers, to better understand the broadband requirements he sees his clients requiring and why more businesses are making the switch to SIRO.

SIRO For Hospitality

We understand that keeping your guests happy and entertained is your top priority to drive loyalty. We can help you choose the best connectivity to ensure that your guests enjoy a wonderful experience. Ensure your guests can stay connected, your employees can access booking and payment systems seamlessly, and facilitate high quality streaming across TV's. Our network is built on the ESB network so you know you can rely on it. Island Computer is an IT Services company, working with small to medium sized enterprises in West Cork & Kerry in the hospitality sector. One SME which Island Technologies provides IT support and advice to is the Sheahan Group. This family hospitality company own and operate several pubs and hotels in the Southwest region. These include Hilliards, Social 15, The PorterHouse, Whitegates Hotel amongst others. There are currently ten clients of Island Computers use SIRO full fibre enterprise broadband services. Viatel is their ISP (Internet Service Provider) on the SIRO network. [caption id="attachment_8434" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kieran Clifford, Technical Director, Island Computers[/caption]

Why did your company/client make the switch to fibre?

“VDSL was not providing the service that we needed. When you are dependent on using things like EPOS, Credit Cards, CCTV Systems and especially with COVID, we had to validate people’s certs to ensure they were vaccinated, reliable internet is required.  Fibre to the premises, along with a managed services through Viatel was an ideal solution."

Can you give us an example of how SIRO’s fibre was a benefit to your business?

“Before we had SIRO, VDSL would only work until 3p.m.  We were constantly refreshing pages or credit card machines were not working. It was an extremely frustrating experience. Our staff had better things to be doing than refreshing credit card pages.” “So, we decided to trial SIRO and Viatel’s fibre connection initially from one of the busiest premises, having 600-700 people in per night. This was Reidy’s of Killarney. It was a huge success. After that, we rolled it out to McSorely’s and Social 15, which were heavily populated at the weekends. “In our own place of work, we are very much cloud based. We are big users of 365 and Azure. The back end and marketing rely on the technology. We are so dependent on fibre broadband. Since the investment with SIRO and Viatel, we found that our productivity has improved as the broadband provides a smoother experience. The great thing about working with Viatel is that there is two-way communication, so we can coordinate maintenance and make those accommodations to avoid delays.”

Are there any other aspects of the business where SIRO’s fibre broadband improved your operations?

“In areas such as remote monitoring and security, the upload speed was invaluable to us. The synchronous connection allows us to monitor and receive stream images in full HD quality. There is no question about blurry images or video streams that are not focusing correctly. It is allowing us to get real time metrics on the business. e.g., from the EPOS, Attendance, Management Systems, Aircon.”

Would you recommend SIRO’s business products to others who are looking for better broadband?

“Absolutely. One of the huge advantages we found with using SIRO is the flexibility. We are using VYPE and getting rid of the PBXs. We are now using cloud-based comms and IM like Zoom and Teams, and using cloud, remote, and virtual technology, so SIRO is the way to go. It supports all that technology and opens us up. What may seem like an investment at the start, will see a return very quickly. For the businesses I am providing support for, that return came instantly. I was thinking “wow, where would we be without it. Why didn’t we have it two years ago?” “Killarney is a tourist town; you can have 20,000 people here at any Bank Holiday weekend. We need SIRO broadband. Everyone is using social media and uploading content. If you are not in that bubble, you are going to be very disconnected. It is a huge plus to be able to engage with our audiences in that sense too. It needs to be something people can adapt to. I would highly recommend SIRO for Business products. We just cannot wait for the next iteration. When can we get the 2GB and 10GB synchronous speeds?” Businesses across Ireland deserve a broadband connection they can rely on. SIRO 100% Fibre Broadband is a weatherproof, fully scalable connection that will allow your businesses to prosper, giving you one less thing to worry about for your business. To find out more about SIRO for your business, search your Eircode today and get in touch with our Business Development team. [lookup_modal type="eircode" button-text="Search Your Eircode" position="mid" title="Input your Eircode to check whether SIRO is available at your location"]

Today we are delighted to announce we will be expanding our network to Leitrim during 2023. Carrick-on-Shannon is the latest town to benefit from our full fibre network. The roll out will include over 1,800 homes and businesses in Carrick-on-Shannon as part of our full fibre broadband roll out to Leitrim. The build works commenced in April of this year, with the rollout of the area expected to complete in Q4 2023. [caption id="attachment_8218" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SIRO representatives pictured with members of Carrick on Shannon Town Committee and Leitrim County Council officials.[/caption]

Where is SIRO rolling out to in Carrick-on-Shannon?

Areas within Carrick-on-Shannon that will be covered under our 100% fibre roll out include (but are not limited to): Oaklands Manor, Cara Court, Autumn View, Summerhill Grove, Glenpatrick, Shannon View, Shannon Lodge, Cnoc na Sí, Marina Road, Elysian Meadows, Ath na Rí, Maigh Glas. The roll-out of a full fibre broadband network in Carrick on Shannon is part of our ongoing network expansion, targeting 770,000 premises in 154 towns and cities across Ireland. To date, over 490,000 premises in 126 towns across the country can access the SIRO network. [caption id="attachment_8219" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured President of Carrick on Shannon Chamber of Commerce Colm McGrath and SIRO Director of Corporate Affairs Amanda Glancy.[/caption]

Who can I order SIRO Broadband with?

Homes and businesses can order SIRO 100% fibre broadband from our network of retailers, including Vodafone, Airwire, Sky, Pure Telecom, Digiweb, Viatel, Blacknight, Fastcom and Telcom. SIRO 100% fibre is available to both homes and businesses within Carrick-on-Shannon, with speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second available for homes in the area, and up to 10 gigabits for enterprise connections. SIRO, founded back in 2015, is a joint venture company between ESB and Vodafone, focused on delivering full fibre broadband to Ireland’s towns and cities. SIRO’s fibre broadband network is built on the ESB electricity infrastructure, trusted for its reliability and resilience. Commenting on the announcement, SIRO CEO, John Keaney, said:

“Today’s announcement for Carrick-on-Shannon is part of SIRO’s wider efforts to bring resilient, scalable, fibre broadband to towns across Ireland. We are pleased to be expanding our network to reach Leitrim’s County town as part of our ongoing network expansion. “At SIRO, we understand both the need and huge demand for fast and high-quality broadband for homes and businesses today. Having access to reliable connectivity enables Carrick-on-Shannon to become a more attractive place to live and work.” “With SIRO’s broadband network available in Carrick-on Shannon, residents and businesses will have access to one of Europe’s most advanced and future proofed networks. It will   facilitate hybrid working for employees, reducing the need for unsustainable commutes to larger towns and cities. “For employers they can use cloud and digital technologies for the smooth running of their company networks. Local businesses will be able to thrive as faster and seamless online payments and orders, such as in the hospitality sector, can be smoothly facilitated.”

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn, stated:

“I am delighted to see this announcement today that SIRO are rolling out Fibre Broadband in Carrick on Shannon ensuring a 100% fibre connection to over 1800 homes and businesses in the area. The local authority welcome the SIRO installation as it will have significant economic benefits for the area supporting faster and seamless connectivity as well as giving confidence to businesses in their use of digital technologies and supporting their company networks and hybrid working opportunities.”

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[caption id="attachment_7972" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Director of The Cube, Caroline Hofman[/caption]   Thursday, 30th March 2023 saw the official opening of the GigaBitHub, The CUBE, by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney. The 10,000 square foot Low Carbon Centre of Excellence is a dedicated centre for the development of new business and economic activity. It’s goal is to support and assist a transition to a low carbon economy for County Laois.   Portlaoise Town has been designated as Ireland’s first ‘Low Carbon Town’ which will serve as a roadmap for the development and rollout of similar low carbon initiatives in other towns around the Country.   This low carbon facility is the first of its kind in the region and is located in the heart of Portlaoise’s Cultural Quarter. It will support and stimulate the development of enterprise and jobs in Laois and the Midlands region.   The CUBE is funded by Enterprise Ireland under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund. The project pivots around Government plans and strategic directions, including Project Ireland 2040, the Climate Action Plan to tackle Climate breakdown, and the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024.  The Cube is the 18th GigaBitHub to be announced under SIRO and Vodafone’s GigaBitHub initiative and is the first to open under its second phase.   [caption id="attachment_7971" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] L-R, SIRO Corporate Affairs Director, Amanda Glancy, Charlie Collins, Senior Strategic Partner, VF Business, John Keaney, SIRO CEO, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, Public Sector Account Executive, Ryan Brophy  Lisa Corcoran, Head of SME Business, Vodafone Business Ireland[/caption] Present at the launch included: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Conveney, Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Thomasina Connell, SIRO CEO, John Keaney, Cube Tenants, including FRS Recruitment, WrkWrk, and Midlands.ie, Laois County Council CEO, John Mullholland, Enterprise Ireland Divisional Manager, Carol Gibbins, and Head of SME Business at Vodafone Business Ireland, Lisa Corcoran.   [caption id="attachment_7970" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] L-R, Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett and Corporate Affairs Director at SIRO, Amanda Glancy[/caption] Speaking on the announcement, the following comments were made:  Speaking at the opening Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD said:  

“I am delighted be here today to officially open the CUBE in Portlaoise, Ireland’s first ‘low-carbon’ town. This remarkable state-of-the art facility, will play a central role in enabling the growth of scaling enterprises across the Midlands and further afield, supporting this critical agenda to reduce energy consumption.   The opening of the CUBE, supported by over €2m in funding from my Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund, will see the positive contribution by low carbon businesses to economic prosperity in the long-term and I believe will serve as a roadmap for the development and rollout of similar low carbon initiatives in other towns around the country.” 

[caption id="attachment_7969" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] L-R SIRO CEO John Keaney, Head of SME Business, Lisa Corcoran, Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Thomasina Connell, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, Divisional Manager & Head of Regions and Local Enterprise, Enterprise Ireland, Carol Gibbins, and Director of The Cube, Caroline Hofman[/caption] Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Thomasina Connell added: 

"Not only will the centre provide support and assist businesses in the transition to a low carbon economy, but it will greatly assist the local community in their efforts to address energy consumption and retrofitting.” 

Commenting on the announcement, SIRO CEO, John Keaney, said: 

“The SIRO-Vodafone GigaBitHub Initiative has connected 18 hubs to date.  “The Cube” is the first GigaBitHub of its kind with a commitment to driving sustainability within its local and regional communities. We’re excited to support “The Cube” in its goal to help Ireland’s journey to carbon neutrality.   It resonates with SIRO’s mission to be Ireland’s greenest broadband network, as SIRO’s full fibre network is inherently more sustainable, requiring less energy and maintenance when compared to copper or cable networks. We’re delighted to support The Cube in its mission in making Portlaoise a low-carbon town."

Sinéad Bryan, Managing Director of Vodafone Business Ireland, added: 

"The Gigabit Hub Initiative was created in order to empower local businesses and communities through connectivity. This connectivity means the people of Laois can benefit from a better work life balance and allow them to pursue their careers within the area they are from, without sacrificing their quality of life or being forced to move to cities or abroad.” 

SIRO is now accepting applications for GigaBitHub applications within our network footprint. For more information, please visit https://siro.ie/about-us/gigabit-hubs/ 

The internet probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of sustainability. Instead, you might picture smokestacks, polluting factories, or open pit mines. However, the infrastructure operated to provide broadband requires electricity to power active network equipment and data storage facilities.   Information and communications technology (ICT) is one of the fastest growing greenhouse gas emitting sectors, accounting for 3-5% of global emissions (European Commission 2022), which is on par with the aviation sector. The challenge of the growing energy needs of the ICT sector is being tackled by major companies setting ambitious targets. Microsoft has set a target to be carbon negative by 2030, and Intel have committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2030.  

The role of SMEs in Ireland’s Sustainable Development

We can’t leave it all up to the world’s biggest companies, however. With market pressures, we see big companies turn on a dime and roll back their previously ambitious targets. BP’s profits doubled in 2022, yet the oil and gas company reduced its emissions reduction target for 2030 down to 20-30% from its previous 35-40% target (Reuters). This is where the role of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) comes in.    SMEs are businesses with less than 250 employees. In 2020, Ireland’s SMEs accounted for 99.8% of the total number of enterprises and generated 41.9% of total turnover in the business economy (Irish SME Association). Given their critical contribution to the economy, SMEs are perfectly placed to be sustainability vanguards.   Being small gives SMEs the advantage of agility, with the flexibility to make decisions and implement meaningful changes quickly. SMEs can have a higher exposure to sustainability-related risks compared to larger companies due to their limited influence over supply chain risks and smaller cash reserves. But they also stand to gain more, with the benefits of integrating sustainability as a core value being very clear.   From cost savings and improved efficiencies to higher employee engagement and satisfaction, improved reputation and increased consumer satisfaction, SMEs with a clear sustainability strategy can obtain competitive advantages.   [caption id="attachment_7906" align="aligncenter" width="702"] siro sustainability[/caption]

How Sustainability is a Driver of Innovation for SMEs

SIRO is an SME, and with that there are additional challenges for certain sustainability initiatives due to fewer resources and reduced internal capacity. However, these same conditions can also make SMEs fertile ground for innovation.   Sustainable innovation differs from traditional innovation due to the equal balance given to economic, environmental, and social considerations. Sustainable innovation improves the sustainability performance of a business while simultaneously minimising its impact.   It is becoming increasingly important that SMEs recognise the importance of sustainable innovation as a driver in differentiating their products and services, as this will ultimately improve the company’s prospects in the market. Driven by social changes and cutting-edge technology, sustainable innovation in SMEs can be quickly investigated and adopted given the short pipeline between employees and decision-makers.   Sustainability in innovation benefits everyone. For SMEs, innovation enhances their competitive edge leading to enhanced market opportunities and in turn increasing their business’ resilience (which further increases the business’ sustainability and so on). On the other hand, as products and services continue to improve, this positively impacts on consumers’ social and economic development. Digital technology is a particularly important driver for sustainable innovation, as well as an enabler for innovations that contribute to social and economic challenges.   For example, as SIRO’s network grows, access to fibre to the home broadband  is made available to many homes and small businesses that were previously not serviced, opening digital transformation opportunities for these communities.  

Building Resilient, Reliable, And Sustainable Infrastructure

SIRO is committed to providing broadband connectivity to as many people across Ireland as possible, while improving the sustainability of our infrastructure at the same time.   SIRO’s network is being built using ESB’s existing infrastructure, limiting our footprint, and removing excessive resource consumption at the design stage. Continuous innovations in fibre to the home technology increasingly contribute to a sustainable broadband future.  SIRO is deploying an XGS-PON fibre network, technology that supports high-speed 10 gigabit per second data transfers. By delivering this now, we can avoid a future upgrade cycle, eliminating unnecessary waste and materials.   We have embedded a future-proof approach through the delivery of XGS-PON, which also provides higher bandwidth with lower energy consumption requirements. Sustainability goes beyond just the physical footprint and environmental impact of an organisation’s infrastructure however, encompassing the three pillars of environment, social and governance.  By deploying XGS-PON we are providing greater reliability for our communities due to the absence of active network elements, improving access and affordability in an equitable way.  

Opportunities For SMEs To Pursue Sustainability

The limited internal capacity and resources available to SMEs doesn’t prevent action on sustainability, but it does require a targeted approach. You can’t boil the ocean. Instead of trying to act on everything, reflect on the business’ priorities by identifying what topics matter most to your stakeholders and where your business stands to make the greatest impact. A materiality assessment is a great tool to use to begin this process.   Once you know what matters, select a limited number of meaningful goals to track your progress against, rather than spreading your resources too thin. For example, SIRO has a “Science-Based Target” which provides an option for SMEs to set an emissions reduction target that is in line with what climate science deems necessary. Finally, by focusing on transformative change and collaboration with peers, SMEs can be on the frontlines of sustainability.   SMEs cannot afford to be unsustainable, with greater exposure to sustainability-related risks due to their size and reduced resilience compared to larger companies. Sustainability-driven innovation provides a key opportunity for SMEs to differentiate their products and services. Going further than just being value-adding, sustainability can be harnessed by SMEs to access new markets, improve consumer confidence, increase employee engagement and satisfaction, and attract and retain talent.  [lookup_modal type="eircode" button-text="Search Your Eircode Today" position="mid" title="Input your Eircode to check whether SIRO is available at your location"]

Broadband is an essential part of our everyday lives. It allows us to connect with friends, to work from home and to relax with our smart devices. With so much information out there about broadband, it can be confusing to know which internet connection is best for your needs. You might be thinking what kind of broadband can I get? Fibre broadband in Ireland has been around since 2015. Read on to learn five facts about fibre you may not have known.

1 The first national 100% fibre broadband network

The first 100% fibre to the home broadband network in Ireland was launched by SIRO back in 2015. SIRO, in a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone, had the aim of delivering the first fibre to the home network in Ireland, disrupting the then copper dominated broadband market.

2. Growth of fibre network reach across Ireland

Have you ever wondered; can I get fibre broadband where I live? SIRO is now live in more than 90 towns and counting, with an aim to connect 154 towns by 2026, so SIRO’s network footprint may already or soon be available for your home or business soon. As well as this, the fibre broadband market share is growing, with Comreg’s Q3 2022 report showing there were 463k FTTP subscriptions, compared to just 340k FTTP subscriptions in Q3 2021.

3. Speed capabilities

Did you know SIRO was one of the first broadband networks in Europe to fully upgrade to XGS-PON technology, unlocking speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second. One of the main benefits of having fibre broadband is being able to connect as many devices as you need at a time, without delays or lags. This is ideal for working from home, or to facilitate the day to day running of a business… You will no longer be asking yourself why is my broadband so slow?

4. Lowest latency on the market

Latency measures the length of time it takes to transfer data from one source to another. SIRO’s fibre broadband boasts some of the lowest latency on the market, with a ping of 20 milliseconds. This makes it perfect for online gaming, streaming in 4k and 8k, and video calls. Low latency allows you to stay connected and to download files and applications quickly.

5. Weather resistant broadband

Can weather affect fibre optic broadband? Many are under the assumption that their broadband can be affected by stormy weather. Thankfully, this isn’t a worry for those who have a SIRO fibre broadband connection. Fibre is much more weather proofed than other broadband types on the market. Fibre makes use of light to transmit data contrary to copper, which is more vulnerable to storms and other climate impacts. Fibre in Ireland is here to stay. SIRO is rolling out the next generation of broadband in Ireland across 154 towns. It’s resiliency, speeds and reliability are unmatched. With the above in mind, the next step is to find out if SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband is available to your home or business. [lookup_modal type="eircode" button-text="Search Your Eircode Today" position="mid" title="Input your Eircode to check whether SIRO is available at your location"]

SIRO, the fibre broadband network operator, has today announced the roll out of its broadband network in Roscommon town. The build works commenced in autumn last year. The company has confirmed that significant progress has already made in its delivery of the new network, with almost 70% of the project now complete. The company is investing €3 million in bringing Ireland’s most advanced broadband network to the town.  

When is SIRO coming to Roscommon?

SIRO is rolling out its high speed, reliable fibre broadband network to 2,350 homes and businesses in the town overall.  Build works for a majority of the premises targeted, (1,600 premises), are already completed and the new broadband service is now available to order. The remaining 750 premises in the town are expected to be completed during Spring 2023. 

Where is SIRO rolling out to in Roscommon Town?

Areas within Roscommon set to benefit from the roll out include Main Street, Riverdale, Lanesborough Street, Saint Ciaran’s Park, Pine View, Castle Street, Sunny Side House, Cherry Drive, Castle Apartments, Knights Court, Celtic Avenue, Cloonbrackna, Brookvale Avenue, and Lús Leana.  Homes and businesses can now order SIRO’s fibre broadband from its network of retailers, including Vodafone, Sky, Airwire, Pure Telecom, Digiweb, Fastcom and Viatel.  SIRO’s full fibre network is available to both homes and businesses within Roscommon town, with speeds of up to 2 gigabit per second available for homes, and up to 10 gigabits for enterprise connections. 

What is SIRO broadband? 

SIRO is a joint venture company between ESB and Vodafone, founded in 2015, focused on delivering full fibre broadband to Ireland’s towns and cities. SIRO’s fibre broadband network is built on the ESB electricity infrastructure, trusted for its reliability and resilience. Overall, the company is investing more than €1 billion in delivering high speed, future proofed broadband across Ireland. 

How Broadband Supports A Community

Commenting on the announcement, SIRO Chief Executive Officer, John Keaney, said:  

“SIRO has one of the most advanced fibre broadband networks in Europe, so we are really pleased to be bringing this network to Roscommon town.  “Individuals and businesses are all too aware of the value of a reliable and resilient broadband connection. It allows them to stay connected at home or when running their businesses, removing what can be a major pain point in daily life if their existing broadband is poor.  “Fibre broadband can have a transformative effect on regional towns. By providing a scalable, future-proofed and sustainable fibre network, it re-enforces Roscommon town’s attractiveness as a place to live, work and do business,” added Mr. Keaney.    

Shane Tiernan Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council stated:  

 “This multi-million-euro investment and delivery of full fibre broadband by SIRO in Roscommon town is to be congratulated and welcomed. High speed reliable digital connectivity is an essential requirement to allow Roscommon town to flourish commercially, economically and socially.    “The availability of SIRO’s full fibre broadband infrastructure greatly supports Roscommon County Council’s ambition for the development of an innovative collaborative digital society and economy in Roscommon over the coming years. This advancement by SIRO will undoubtedly have a very positive impact in supporting our constant drive for Roscommon to be a great place to live, work, invest in and visit”, added Mr. Tiernan.  

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SIRO, the broadband network operator, has today announced it has rolled out its full fibre broadband network in Enfield. SIRO’s broadband will bring world class connectivity to 1,000 homes and businesses in Enfield. Areas in the town set to benefit from SIRO’s roll out include (but are not limited to): Glen Abhainn Green, Glen Abhainn Lawns, Blackwater Close, Newcastle Woods Crescent, Delmere, The Drive, New Road, New Inn, The Park, The View, The Close, Royal Canal Walk, and Moyfenrath. 860 homes and businesses, (with work underway to complete the remaining 140 premises), are now able to order SIRO from its network of retailers, including Sky, Pure Telecom, Digiweb, Viatel and Fastcom. SIRO’s roll-out of a full fibre broadband network in Enfield is part of the company’s ongoing network expansion, targeting 770,000 premises in 154 towns and cities across Ireland. To date, over 460,000 premises can access SIRO’s network. SIRO’s full fibre network is available to both homes and businesses within Enfield, with speeds of up to 2 gigabit per second available for residences, and up to 10 gigabits for enterprise connections. Enfield is the 11^th Meath town to join SIRO’s fibre broadband network. To date, over 28,000 Meath premises across Navan, Trim, Rathoath, Ashbourne, Bettystown, Dunshaughlin, Mornington, Stamullen, Dunboyne, and Laytown can avail of SIRO’s broadband. SIRO is a joint venture company between ESB and Vodafone, founded in 2015. SIRO’s fibre broadband network is built on the ESB electricity infrastructure, trusted for its reliability and resilience. Overall, the company is investing more than €1 billion in delivering high speed, future proofed broadband across Ireland. Commenting on the announcement, SIRO’s CEO, John Keaney, said:

“Today’s announcement on Enfield is part of SIRO’s wider efforts to bring resilient, scalable, fibre broadband to Meath. When we first announced a €20 million investment in Meath in 2019, it was to connect 21,000 homes across eight towns. Now, we have 28,000 homes and businesses in 11 Meath towns passed with full fibre; invested €30 million to date in the county; and are working to bring full fibre broadband to additional Meath towns. “We are excited to continue our roll out in Meath, as SIRO’s robust full fibre broadband network enriches the infrastructure in towns like Enfield. Reliable connectivity means that Enfield can be a town where people both live and work - allowing people to work from home, local entrepreneurs to run their businesses from here or to attract inward investment and drive job creation.”

SIRO is now available to order in Enfield. Check your Eircode here to see if your home is SIRO-ready.

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With one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Black Friday, fast approaching, it’s time to start researching where to shop online and how to get the best deals. Black Friday, once a US tradition, now a global phenomenon is where deal-savvy customers piled into shopping malls after Thanksgiving ready to buy discounted goods for Christmas. Now, in Ireland, it’s certainly on consumers’ minds. RTE noted that Google searches for "Black Friday" had increased by 138% from 2020 to 2021. Online shopping is set to receive a massive boost throughout the day, as according to a study by AIB last year, Irish consumers were poised to spend more than €25,000 a minute, during Black Friday sales online. Naturally in recent years there’s been a shift from in-store shopping to online, as the pandemic dictated when we could shop indoors. A 2021 study by Statista highlighted that 87% of UK buyers preferred to do their shopping online. The same survey showed that only 17% would rather do their Black Friday buying in person. Online shopping in general, has become a part of shopper’s daily lives, and Black Friday is no exception. A reliable broadband connection is necessary if you’re going to check out with the latest deals. Are you on the fence about participating in Black Friday this year? Or whether online shopping is your thing? Here’s some of the reasons why the sales might be for you.

Convenience

One of the major benefits of shopping online is being able to purchase your favourite items from the comfort of your home. You could be multitasking, one hand on the remote watching TV, the other scrolling through your favourite clothing brand. Opting to shop online means you don’t have to consider weather conditions, travel time, wait time etc. As well as that, it allows for more flexibility to suit your schedule, such as purchasing during your lunch break from work or during a quiet moment that suits while you’re on break. Studies from AIB in 2021 showed that the busiest time for shopping on Black Friday last year was between 11am and 12pm, due to people purchasing online during work hours. A US Study by Drive Research found that 41% of shoppers did not want to shop in person/in stores on Black Friday due to the long queues and over 60% did not want to shop because of large crowds. Large crowds in a post-covid world are a good reason not to traverse the high street, if your health is at risk. Online shopping may not only be convenient but the safer option for many, too.

Greater Variety

Shopping online provides a greater variety of choice and access to international brands and websites. There may be more sizes available online, more selection available, and more discounts. Additionally, you can look at the various brands and their price points to compare and to get the best deal for yourself. Another benefit is that you can view all the reviews of certain products and get more information about products than you could in store. At SIRO, we understand the value of variety. As a wholesale operator with 20 retailers, we understand the power that providing choice to our customers brings. Competition allows the customer to get the best price possible, without compromising on quality. However, with shopping online, there is the topic of sustainability, and how it can affect your carbon footprint.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a major consideration for consumers. It’s no secret that shopping, either online or in person, can impact your carbon footprint. However, there are steps you can take to minimize this. By shopping online, you can view different brands websites which contains key information on whether their products are cruelty free, their returns policy, their efforts to use recycled packaging etc. By having information, you can then make an informed decision on which brands to purchase from and choose the most eco-friendly option for delivery. Recent studies by DataReportal highlighted that the reason 19% of people surveyed shop online, is due to knowing the product or company is eco-friendly. Online shopping also can reduce a consumer’s carbon footprint. Instead of driving to a physical store, you are staying at home and making the purchase. This year is likely to be a bumper year for Black Friday shopping, with increased inflation and higher costs of living, consumers will be online looking for bargains. To get ahead of the competition and ensure you don’t get frozen out on the many deals on the day, choose SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband for your Black Friday experience. To find out whether SIRO’s high speed broadband is available to your home to assist you with your online purchases, search your Eircode here

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