New Service Aims To Take The Headache Out Of Ordering Broadband For Home Buyers

Broadband operator, SIRO, has today launched a new service aimed at ensuring that buyers can access a fibre broadband service at their new home from the day they move in. Traditionally, buyers of new homes may experience a wait time of several days or even weeks before their broadband service is installed and up and running. This can be extremely frustrating for those moving into a new home who find themselves dependent on reliable connectivity to undertake a wide range of essential activities for themselves and wider family. Increasingly, new home buyers or their tenants are seeking a functioning broadband service live at their new home from the first day they move in. Activities such as working from home; using connected home devices such as house alarms, doorbell or remote access services like a smart thermostat; and connectivity for mobile, TV or gaming have all expanded this need. SIRO’s new bespoke service allows buyers to pre-order their broadband service so that it is ready to go before their boxes are even unpacked. New home buyers or their tenants can log onto a dedicated webpage on SIRO’s website, find their new development and their individual home and then pre-order a 100% fibre broadband service in advance of moving in. [caption id="attachment_11232" align="aligncenter" width="1097"]

Thursday 14th August 2025; Pictured are Ronan Whelan, SIRO Chief Commercial Officer and Marianne Murphy, Head of Marketing as SIRO is announcing the launch of a new online service allowing buyers to have access to a fibre broadband service at their new home from the day they move in.[/caption] SIRO’s new service for home buyers offers a range of options depending on each individual’s circumstances. For those who have already moved in they can go ahead and order broadband services today; those who have bought, have an Eircode or just the address and a move-in date they can pre-order to ensure their broadband is ready when they are; or for those who have just bought, have an address but no move-in date yet can register and receive a reminder from SIRO when the broadband pre-order service is available to them. For estate agents and developers, they also now have a dedicated information source that they can direct their home buyers to if the latter have queries on services available to them. Research previously commissioned by SIRO revealed the extent to which broadband is now viewed as an indispensable part of modern living, surpassing other features once regarded as core to a new home. It found that access to broadband was a key consideration for home buyers, ranking higher than even a parking spot or garden for respondents. A first in the Irish broadband market, SIRO’s website now hosts a comprehensive list of new developments across Ireland in which SIRO is rolling out its network. SIRO’s new developments webpage currently lists over 300 new developments in every corner of Ireland, with more new developments added on a weekly basis. SIRO is a wholesale fibre broadband operator. It partners with more than twenty broadband retailers such as Digiweb, Pure Telcom, Sky, Virgin Media and Vodafone amongst others from which home buyers can order a broadband service from. It has grown to become the second largest full fibre broadband network in Ireland and continues to grow. Commenting on its new dedicated service, SIRO Chief Commercial Officer Ronan Whelan said:

“There is so much to consider and deal with when buying and or moving into a new home. It’s a stressful time! Getting utilities in place, particularly broadband, are an essential part of making a house a home. SIRO’s new service aims to ensure that the process of getting a broadband connection live is seamless.

“Being attuned to customer needs is a key reason for SIRO’s success over the last decade. Over that time and even more so since working from home became mainstream, has been the need for home buyers to have a broadband service available as quickly as possible. We’ve listened to both consumers and developers on this issue and our new service is a response to this overwhelming demand,” added Mr. Whelan.

Giving the perspective of home buyers, Managing Director of DNG Duffy, Dundalk, Keith Duffy noted that:

“Some homebuyers – particularly first-time buyers and those working from home – like to confirm broadband availability early in the sales process so they can plan ahead.

“SIRO’s new webpage is a real advantage, allowing buyers to check service availability in their area and even pre-order broadband, helping them get ahead before moving in.

“While some expect broadband to be ready on day one, it can be something they overlook, so the pre-order option is especially useful. Feedback from those who have used it has been very positive, with customers noting quick turnaround times and being highly satisfied with the service."

SIRO’s New Pre-Order Service for Home Buyers can be found at: https://siro.ie/new-developments/

Pre-Order SIRO Now

SIRO, the 100% fibre broadband network operator, has announced that its network is now live in Claremorris. To date, 868 homes and businesses in the town have been passed by the SIRO network, with a further 630 premises expected to go live in 2025 – a total of 1,500 premises overall. Areas in Claremorris that will have access to the SIRO network include, but are not limited to Cluain Aoibhinn, Claremount Manor, Elmwood, Grattan Crescent, Elm Park, Ard Rua, Cnoc Bothar, Lisnaboley Lane, Beechpark, Grattan Park, Clareville and Springdale. The rollout in Claremorris is part of SIRO’s wider investment in Mayo, where close to 8,800 premises are already passed by the SIRO network. With the completion of the Claremorris build, the number of premises passed in the county will rise to over 9,000. SIRO’s network is available in towns including Ballina, Westport, and Castlebar. [caption id="attachment_11192" align="aligncenter" width="807"]

Main Street, Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland.[/caption] SIRO’s national network has reached more than 660,000 premises across 143 towns and cities, as part of its €1 billion investment. The company is on track to pass over 700,000 premises by 2026, helping to future-proof connectivity in communities right across Ireland. SIRO’s full fibre broadband network will provide residents and businesses in Claremorris with fast and future proofed connectivity, enabling everything from seamless remote working or video streaming to supporting local enterprises in their digital growth. SIRO’s full fibre network currently provides speeds of up to 2 Gigabits per second for homes and 10 Gigabits per second for businesses. The expansion comes at a crucial time, as Ireland moves closer to switching off the existing outdated copper telecoms network. SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband provides a future-proof solution, ensuring reliable connectivity for households and businesses as traditional copper-based services are phased out. Speaking on the announcement, John Keaney, SIRO Chief Executive Officer, said:

“We are delighted to bring SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband to Claremorris, connecting hundreds of homes and businesses to reliable gigabit connectivity. High-quality broadband is now essential for modern living, supporting remote working, online learning, streaming, and powering local businesses. With our network expansion in Mayo continuing, we are committed to ensuring Claremorris can now access world-class connectivity.”

St Patrick’s Primary School, located in the heart of Galway City, has been named Golden Bee Champion 2025 in this year’s Pollinator Project competition, recognising the school’s outstanding work in supporting pollinators and biodiversity. The competition forms part of the nationwide Pollinator Project, delivered in partnership with Biodiversity in Schools and fibre broadband operator, SIRO. The initiative celebrates schools that go above and beyond in creating pollinator-friendly spaces and embedding biodiversity into school life. The school stood out to the judging panel with their project, ‘Bee-yond the Bricks,’ which tackled the challenge of supporting pollinators in an urban environment. Their entry showcased a powerful blend of research, creativity and student leadership, transforming their school grounds through pollinator planting, creating over 30 bee nesting sites, installing hydration stations, and involving almost every student in the school in the initiative.

St. Patrick’s Primary School is a mixed primary school located in Galway City Centre on Lombard Street, catering to 231 pupils from Junior Infants to 6th Class, under the leadership of Principal Marian Barrett. The school has a strong focus on fostering a nurturing environment with an emphasis on student well-being and holistic development. The ‘Bee-yond the Bricks’ project was guided by Special Educational Needs Teacher Jarlath Conboy, who has played a key role in supporting and accompanying the students throughout their biodiversity journey. The Pollinator Project in 2025 had a record impact. A total of 277 schools took part, with 8,864 students trained as Pollinator Ambassadors through classroom kits. Over 280 schools took the Pollinator Pledge, committing to create or maintain pollinator-friendly habitats. In total, schools pledged 18.5 acres of no-mow meadow, the equivalent of 5 Croke Park pitches, and the project engaged more than 84,000 young people nationwide. Announcing the winner, SIRO’s Director of People and Culture, Blanaid O’Regan, said:

“This year’s Pollinator Project has been truly inspiring in both scale and impact. Seeing schools like St. Patrick’s Primary School in Galway take such creative, science-based action to support pollinators shows just how powerful environmental education can be. We are proud to support an initiative that not only boosts biodiversity but also empowers the next generation to take real climate action.”

Director of Biodiversity in Schools, Mark Nolan, added:

"This year’s standard was exceptional, but St. Patrick’s stood out for their deep engagement and the innovation behind their work. From bee homes to scientific monitoring, they turned learning into action in such a meaningful way. Their students are a credit to their school and their community and a really positive example of what’s possible when schools prioritise nature."

To check if your home is on the SIRO network, search your Eircode today. [lookup_modal type="eircode" button-text="Search Your Eircode" position="mid" title="Input your Eircode to check whether SIRO is available at your location"]

Despite new data which has been published today by Comreg, which indicates that more than 75% of Irish premises can now access fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband, Ireland still lacks a national copper switch off plan. The 75% availability figure is a key threshold figure under which it is permissible that the first stage of the copper switch off process can now commence. This process would ensure that outdated copper broadband which is increasingly unfit for purpose and struggles to meet modern data demands can be switched off in favour of faster and more resilient fibre broadband. However, Ireland’s lack of progress stands in stark contrast to strides made by other European countries like Spain, who announced last month that it had completed its copper switch off process. While other countries such as France, Portugal and Sweden are expected to match Spain’s achievement in the near future, Ireland still lacks any national strategy to achieve the EU goal of decommissioning legacy copper networks by 2030. In the UK, which has set a target of January 2027 for its copper switch off, dubbed “The Great British Switch Off”, proactive industry and Government collaboration, planning and implementation is actively taking place to ensure that the process is effective, transparent and widely understood by consumers and businesses.

Wholesale fibre optic broadband operator SIRO hosted an industry event this week, bringing Irish and international experts together to discuss and debate how Ireland can best approach copper switch off in the years ahead. International telecoms expert, Benoit Felten, Partner at Plum Consulting, noted:

“All European countries including Ireland need to recognise that the benefits of copper switch off far outweigh any perceived risks. These positive benefits include an acceleration of the digitisation of businesses and public services; a faster return on public and private investment in full fibre networks; and environmental and climate change benefits - moving away from more energy-hungry copper to energy efficient fibre networks, which are also more resilient in the face of weather extremes such as storms or higher temperatures. “In countries such as Spain, which announced a few weeks ago that it has completed its process of copper switch off, or France, where the process is well advanced, copper switch off occurred without any significant issues emerging, which indicates that, once well planned and executed by key stakeholders, it can be an effective process”, added Mr. Felten.

SIRO’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ronan Whelan added:

“Comreg data published today indicates that over 75% of all premises in Ireland are now able to access fibre to the premise broadband. This threshold figure means that, subject to set requirements, the conditions for commencing the process of copper switch off now exist. “Moving closer to switching off copper technology, which has existed in Ireland for over 100 years but is no longer fit for purpose in terms of data demands and speeds now required in Ireland, is a hugely positive development for Ireland’s future social and economic growth. Up to €5 billion is being spent on upgrading our broadband networks to full fibre, with Ireland on track to be fully fibred by 2028, if not before. It is now time to leverage that investment in a constructive way that benefits Ireland and positions us as a technologically advanced economy on a par with other leading EU and global states. “For Ireland to keep pace with these developments, we need to be ambitious and set out a comprehensive plan with the input of a range of stakeholders to ensure Ireland is to the fore of this digital transformation, not following it ”, added Mr. Whelan.

Read more on the copper switch off here.

Fibre broadband network operator, SIRO, has today marked a decade since the company was launched by announcing Carrigtwohill will become Ireland’s first full fibre town when SIRO’s build in the Cork town completes later this summer.

The announcement was made at a 10^th anniversary celebration event held by the company at Dublin’s Merrion Hotel and attended by Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport Patrick O’Donovan T.D. SIRO confirmed at the event that, when it completes its build programme in Carrigtwohill in the coming weeks, all homes and businesses within the town will have access to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband. This will make Carrigtwohill the first Irish town in which all premises can access full fibre broadband. Carrigtwohill is a growing town, just 12 kilometres from Cork City, whose population has more than trebled to over 5,500 since 2002. Its population is predicted to reach up to 10,000 by 2030, with a sizeable number of new housing developments underway or planned. SIRO’s fibre to the home network will reach over 2,300 premises in the town and the company is also on track for its network to reach the more than 1,000 new homes which are either under construction or planned for the town. Access to fast, reliable and future proofed fibre broadband will support Carrigtwohill’s residents and businesses to live and work more sustainably such as by working remotely, availing of online education or allowing businesses to work smarter and more efficiently using digital tools and resources.

SIRO was founded as a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone in May 2015, with the objective of delivering high quality and future proofed fibre connectivity to communities and towns across Ireland. Since then, SIRO fibre broadband network has grown to become Ireland’s second largest - now available to over 650,000 premises in 143 cities and towns in every county in Ireland. SIRO continues to rollout out its network targeting over 700,000 premises by 2026. When SIRO was founded in 2015, only 1% of premises had access to FTTH broadband. SIRO’s launch of Ireland’s first full fibre network spawned a fibre revolution, stimulating real competition in the market. Today, over 7 in 10 of all premises now can avail of FTTH broadband, making the Government’s target Gigabit broadband access for all by 2028 feasible. At the event, many of the ‘Fibre Firsts’ achieved by SIRO over the decade were acknowledged including:

First to launch a 100% Fibre to the Home broadband network in Ireland;
First to offer 1 Gigabit speeds to Irish homes;
First to launch a 10 Gigabit enabled network, followed by 2 Gigabit speeds to residential market in 2021; and
First Irish broadband operator to be awarded European FTTH Operator of the Year.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D. noted:

“For a decade, SIRO has played a significant role in accelerating Ireland’s digital transformation, a role that aligns with the Government’s ambition for a connected, inclusive Ireland. Their work advances the vision set out in the Programme for Government, which sets a number of targets, including the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026. SIRO has supported real progress for communities and businesses across our country. Their ten-year anniversary reflects a sustained commitment to delivery and innovation and promotes lasting change for communities across the country.”

SIRO CEO John Keaney commented:

“Ten years on from SIRO’s launch, as Ireland’s first fibre to the home network, today is a significant milestone for everyone who, over the last decade, has supported our vision of bringing access to fast, high quality and future proofed broadband connectivity to communities across Ireland. This includes our parents, ESB and Vodafone, our retail partners and their customers, our build contractors, local authorities, Government and State bodies who have supported this objective in various ways. “SIRO’s commitment that all premises – homes and businesses - in the town of Carrigtwohill will soon be able to access fibre to the home broadband, as Ireland’s first fully fibred town, sets the bar for what both the telecoms industry and Government now need to strive to achieve over the coming years . “In an increasingly competitive and digitising global market, Ireland needs every town to be Carrigtwohill – fully fibred and ready to leverage what world leading connectivity can unlock. To do this, key stakeholders must now prioritise switching off our outdated copper network. “Now, more than ever, Ireland needs to play its best cards to continue to attract inward investment and stimulate growth by our domestic businesses. In this regard, our success in rolling out fibre networks is a distinct advantage Ireland needs to make the most of, to protect and grow our economy into the future”, added Mr. Keaney.

ESB Group CEO Paddy Hayes stated:

“SIRO’s success over the past 10 years has been driven by innovation and delivery. Built on ESB Network’s infrastructure, SIRO’s resilient connectivity supports Ireland to live and work more sustainably. At ESB, we share that same commitment to delivery, empowering customers and communities. We appreciate the positive partnership with Vodafone and look forward to supporting further innovation and delivery for communities with SIRO.”

Vodafone Ireland CEO Sabrina Casalta noted:

“SIRO’s successful ten-year journey is a testament to what can be achieved through long-term vision and strong collaboration. From the outset, Vodafone believed in the transformative potential of full fibre broadband, and SIRO has delivered on that promise—bringing future-ready connectivity to towns and communities across Ireland. “As we mark this milestone, it’s clear that continued investment in fibre infrastructure is not just a national priority, but a strategic imperative to ensure Ireland remains competitive and digitally resilient within the EU and beyond. I want to acknowledge and commend the dedication and hard work of the team at ESB, my Vodafone colleagues, and especially John and the wider SIRO team. Ten years of success is no small feat. Here’s to continued progress and impact.”

SIRO, Ireland’s leading 100% fibre broadband network operator, has announced that its network is now live in Mitchelstown and Kanturk in County Cork. With SIRO’s network now available in both towns, residents and businesses can now access gigabit-speed connectivity, empowering homes, supporting businesses, and enabling a digital future. In Kanturk, a total of 1,019 premises have now been passed and are ready to connect, including 610 premises passed in April. With only 190 premises remaining, the rollout is nearly complete. Local areas where SIRO fibre is now available include Doctor Pat O'Callaghan Park, Millbrook, Aisling Gheal, Percival Street, Bluepool Upper, Watergate Street, and Church Street. Meanwhile in Mitchelstown, 384 premises are now passed, with a further 1,111 premises to be connected by June, extending access to even more homes and businesses. This expansion will bring transformative broadband speeds, supporting remote working, online education, digital services, and future economic growth. This new deployment builds on SIRO’s ongoing investment in County Cork. This latest deployment follows SIRO’s recent expansion in Cobh, with 1,053 premises passed. With both Mitchelstown and Kanturk now benefiting from SIRO’s fibre broadband, more communities across the region are gaining access to the high-speed connectivity needed to support modern living and business growth. The expansion into Kanturk and Mitchelstown is part of SIRO’s mission to bring future-proof broadband infrastructure to towns across Ireland. In County Cork alone, SIRO has passed over 88, 000 premises, enabling connectivity in towns including Ballincollig, Bandon, Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill, Fermoy, Little Island, Mallow, Midleton, Skibbereen, Youghal, Crosshaven, Cobh and Kinsale. To date, SIRO’s national network has reached more than 650,000 premises across 142 towns and cities, as part of its €1 billion investment. The company is on track to pass over 700,000 premises by 2026, helping to future-proof communities all across Ireland. SIRO Chief Executive Officer, John Keaney commented:

"Today, reliable, high-speed broadband is the foundation of how we live, work, and do business. Our investment in towns like Mitchelstown and Kanturk reflects our commitment to ensuring that all communities – not just major cities – have access to the world-class connectivity they need to succeed and grow in a digital-first future."

The 2025 Pollinator Project was launched today by Minister of State at the Department of Housing, with Special Responsibility for Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan T.D. This year’s project will see 9,000 school children across Ireland being trained as pollinator ambassadors. The Pollinator Project is Ireland’s largest and longest-running pollinator education programme. The project is now open for applications and encouraging schools to get involved. A collaboration between Biodiversity in Schools and SIRO, Ireland’s 100% fibre broadband network operator, the initiative works by educating and empowering young people on how to protect and nurture the habitats of bees and other pollinators such as butterflies, moths and birds. The initiative actively supports the goals of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. This year’s project is expected to engage with 75,000 students overall as it supports participating schools and their wider communities to take meaningful action in protecting Ireland’s declining bee and pollinator populations.

Pollinators play a vital role in Irish food production and agriculture. With 78% of the country’s wild plants depending on insect pollination, according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Yet their populations face significant threats, including habitat loss from the destruction of species-rich grasslands, native hedgerows, and trees, as well as a lack of safe nesting sites. In the case of bees alone, half of Ireland’s 100 native species are in decline and a third are at risk of extinction. Youth education and community involvement can play a huge role reversing pollinator decline. The Pollinator Project is helping to drive this change by equipping young people with the tools and knowledge to make a tangible impact in their schools and communities, including how to create and maintain pollinator-friendly environments. In 2025, the project aims to expand its reach further. It will do this by providing even more free resources, pollinator toolkits and educational workshops to pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools, and homeschool groups. Each kit contains essential resources to help students create pollinator-friendly spaces, learn about biodiversity, and actively contribute to conservation efforts. With the project application process now live for 2025 here, schools across Ireland are encouraged to apply for their free pollinator toolkits and workshops, arming them with the assets to create pollinator friendly environments in their school grounds. Minister of State with responsibility for Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan T.D. noted:

“This Project, rooted in local communities through its roll-out in Irish schools, can be hugely impactful and will equip the next generation, the future guardians of nature, with an appreciation of the natural world. “I commend both Biodiversity in Schools, their corporate sponsor, SIRO, on what they have achieved through this project to date and encourage schools across Ireland to get involved,” added Minister O’Sullivan.

Director of Biodiversity in Schools, Mark Nolan stated:

"We are thrilled to open applications for the Pollinator Project in 2025. Thanks to the continued support from SIRO over recent years we have been able to grow the initiative into the largest pollinator school programme in Ireland. This year we will be directly training almost 9,000 young people as pollinator ambassadors for their school with an overall reach of around 75,000 students taking bee-positive actions. The project is a wonderful showcase of what's possible when business and schools come together to take real action for nature".

Outlining SIRO’s support for the initiative, CEO John Keaney stated:

“At SIRO, our full fibre broadband network is now rooted in communities across Ireland. We see firsthand the ways in which that connectivity can support people to live more sustainably. But protecting and supporting our natural environment is also hugely important to that objective. We strongly believe that business must play its part in reversing the decline in our natural environment and support its renewal for the generations to come. “Through this project, we want to nurture the next generation of biodiversity champions, empowering young people to respect, protect and preserve our natural habitats. SIRO is pleased to support this valuable work and are excited to see the Project grow further in 2025”, added Mr. Keaney.

The Pollinator Project is now open for school applicants. Schools and teachers who are interested in participating in the Pollinator Project Initiative can find out more details here.

SIRO, Ireland’s leading fibre broadband network operator, today announced the commencement of works to bring its 100% fibre broadband network to Mountmellick, representing an investment of approximately €2 million in the town. Once the rollout is complete, high-speed, reliable broadband will be available to 1,940 premises, including homes and businesses. Construction works will commence in March and are expected to complete in May. As part of the build, planned electricity outages will be required between the week of 19th of March and the week of the 28th of April inclusive, coordinated with ESB Networks. Impacted residents will be notified in advance of these outages, with SIRO and ESB Networks working closely to minimise disruption. Areas that will be covered by the rollout include, but are not limited to: Willow Grove, Grange Hall, St Josephs Terrace, Esker Gate, Manor Grove, Ash Grove, Silverwood Kirwan Park, Hawthorn Ave, Twomey Terrace, and Pattisons Estate.

SIRO’s full fibre network, with speeds of up to 2Gb, will provide Mountmellick residents and businesses with world-class connectivity, enabling everything from seamless remote working and 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, allowing the town to have fast reliable broadband for decades to come. The expansion into Mountmellick is part of SIRO’s mission to bring future-proof broadband infrastructure to towns across Ireland. In County Laois, SIRO has passed 14,000 premises, already enabling connectivity in Portlaoise and Portarlington. SIRO already enjoys a strong and growing footprint across Laois and the wider Midlands. This also includes Tullamore Athlone, Mullingar and Carlow town. SIRO’s national rollout aims to pass over 700,000 premises by 2026. Already, more than 630,000 homes and businesses in 142 towns and cities across Ireland can access SIRO’s full fibre network, due to SIRO’s €1 billion investment in building a high-quality fibre broadband network. Commenting on the expansion, John Keaney, SIRO Chief Executive Officer said:

"Investing in Mountmellick is part of SIRO's commitment to delivering high-quality fibre broadband to towns across Ireland. Access to reliable, high-speed broadband is essential for supporting local businesses, enabling remote work, and improving quality of life. We are excited to bring our transformative fibre broadband to Mountmellick".

AI is revolutionising the operational efficiency of telecommunications providers by streamlining processes to be smarter, faster, and more cost-effective. While the initial impact of AI has been predominantly seen in customer service, its applications are now expanding across all facets of telecom businesses. From enhancing network efficiency to predictive maintenance and smarter capital expenditure (capex) strategies, AI is playing an increasingly integral role in telecom operations. In the long term, as AI adoption continues to scale, telecom companies have the opportunity to improve their bottom lines and deliver innovative services that can redefine customer experiences.

AI and the Telecommunications Industry: The Role of Fibre and 5G

AI has the potential to greatly benefit the telecommunications industry, especially when paired with the strengths of fixed fibre and 5G networks. For example, fibre provides high-capacity, low-latency connections that are ideal for AI training and large-scale data analytics. On the other hand, 5G complements fibre by offering ultra-reliable, low-latency communication, especially in mobile and dynamic environments like IoT devices and autonomous vehicles. One of the primary advantages of combining fibre and 5G is the seamless flow of data across both fixed and mobile networks. This integrated approach allows for real-time decision-making and predictive analytics, enhancing network management. For instance, telecom operators can use AI-driven platforms that rely on fibre for centralised data processing and 5G for edge data collection. This synergy improves service reliability and customer experience by enabling real-time diagnostics and quicker troubleshooting of network issues.

Real-Time AI Applications

The combination of fibre and 5G can be instrumental for AI-driven applications that require stable, high-speed connectivity for processing large datasets in cloud environments. For example, 5G enables rapid communication between edge devices and central systems, supporting time-sensitive applications like remote healthcare monitoring, augmented reality (AR), and autonomous transportation systems.

Accelerating Edge AI

AI can also benefit from the backhaul connectivity that fibre offers, which supports robust computation and data storage in centralised data centres. Meanwhile, 5G provides high-speed, low-latency connectivity for edge devices, enabling AI to function closer to data sources. This is particularly useful in applications like smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and intelligent urban infrastructure. Telecom companies, for example, can deploy smart home solutions where 5G connects devices, and fibre supports the data processing for AI-driven automation.

Enhancing Training and Deployment Cycles

AI training often requires the transfer of large datasets, a process that fibre can facilitate. Meanwhile, 5G ensures that updates to AI models can be deployed in real-time to field devices. For telecom companies, this means predictive maintenance AI models can be trained on data transmitted through fibre and updated in real-time using 5G to field devices. This integration reduces downtime by enabling issues to be predicted and addressed before they escalate.

Optimising Network Performance with AI

Fibre provides consistent connectivity that powers AI-driven network optimisation tools, while 5G uses AI to dynamically allocate bandwidth and optimise connections, especially in mobile or congested environments. This enables telecom providers to create self-optimising networks that enhance user experience and reduce operational costs. AI algorithms can analyse network usage patterns, using fibre for backhaul data transfer and 5G to adjust bandwidth allocation in real-time, reducing buffering and dropped calls during peak usage times.

Driving Sustainability

Fibre and 5G also have a key role in driving sustainability in telecom operations. Fibre networks are inherently energy-efficient, reducing power consumption, which is crucial for supporting large-scale AI workloads. 5G enables AI-driven energy optimisation in mobile network operations, helping telecom providers meet sustainability goals by optimising resource allocation across hybrid networks. This helps reduce the carbon footprint, align telecom operations with global sustainability standards, and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. The convergence of fibre and 5G technologies, enhanced by AI, is revolutionising the telecommunications landscape. The synergy between these technologies enables more efficient resource management, network optimisation, and the ability to scale AI-driven applications across industries. From supporting smart cities and IoT ecosystems to driving sustainability, AI is becoming the backbone of telecom innovation, creating new revenue streams and opportunities for businesses like SIRO to lead the way in providing first-class services to customers.

SIRO, Ireland’s leading 100% fibre broadband network operator, has announced that its network is now live in Kinsale, delivering ultrafast broadband to homes and businesses in the area. With 531 premises passed in November, residents and businesses in Kinsale now have access to reliable, gigabit-level connectivity. Initial rollout areas include Butcher Row, Rath Beg, Rath More, Abbey-Lands, and Cappagh. An additional 500 premises are planned for December, with another 910 set to go live by March 2025. Areas earmarked for future connection include Ballynacubby, Commoge, Dromderrig, Town Plots, Scilly, Ardbrack, Forthill, and Troopers Close.

This development is part of SIRO’s mission to bring future-proof broadband infrastructure to towns across Ireland. In County Cork alone, SIRO has passed close to 86,000 premises, enabling connectivity in towns including Ballincollig, Bandon, Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill, Fermoy, Little Island, Mallow, Midleton, Skibbereen, Youghal, and Crosshaven. Residents and businesses in Kinsale can order SIRO broadband through one of its retail partners, including Virgin Media, Vodafone, Sky, Digiweb, Pure Telecom, Blacknight Solutions, and Fastcom.  This expansion is part of SIRO’s national rollout, which aims to pass over 700,000 premises by 2026. Already, more than 600,000 homes and businesses in 142 towns and cities across Ireland are connected, thanks to SIRO’s €1 billion investment in building a high-quality fibre broadband network. Speaking about the Kinsale rollout, SIRO CEO John Keaney said:

“We are thrilled to bring SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband to Kinsale, a town with a vibrant community and dynamic businesses. Access to reliable, ultrafast broadband is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for living and working in today’s digital world. Our network ensures that Kinsale’s residents and businesses can thrive, whether it’s through seamless remote working, online learning, or growing their businesses.”