Switcher Broadband Survey
Commenting on the Switcher’s Broadband Survey data, Sean Atkinson, CEO of SIRO said:
“With over 36,500 premises passed in 17 towns, SIRO is Ireland’s largest Fibre-to-the-Building operator – the gold standard for broadband connectivity internationally. With the first phase of our 100% fibre-optic broadband roll out underway, and 500,000 premises across 50 towns due to be passed, SIRO is leading the charge to reverse the digital divide between regional and urban areas. A number of towns* that form part of the Switcher.ie Broadband Speed Test are included in the first phase of our rollout, which means that these areas now have or will very shortly have the same level of broadband connectivity as leading international hubs such as Tokyo and Hong Kong.
“SIRO is revolutionising Ireland’s broadband market with future proofed technology which is the first of its kind in Ireland – our Gigabit (1,000Mbps) connectivity is 14 times as powerful as the fastest average internet speed in Ireland highlighted in this report. This means that places like Cavan, Wexford, Drogheda and even a village like Ratheniska now have internet speeds that area 14 times faster than Drimnagh which is the best in Ireland.
The data shows that almost one third of actual internet connections in Ireland are less than 5Mbps which when contrasted with ComReg** data shows that there is a real difference between what people are signing up for and what they’re getting. Using the existing ESB network, SIRO is delivered through fibre optic cables which run alongside existing electricity connections, all the way to the building. This technology has no copper connections at any point to slow down the network and delivers 1 Gigabit download and upload speeds. SIRO’s unique network will be available to all broadband service providers in the country and will address the digital divide between towns and cities.”
* The first phase of SIRO’s fibre roll out is currently ongoing with SIRO on schedule to connect over 500,000 homes and businesses across 50 regional towns by 2018. SIRO is building in 17 towns across the country – Dundalk, Cavan, Carrigaline, Sligo, Letterkenny, Tralee, Wexford, Drogheda, Westport, Portlaoise, Castlebar, Mullingar, Newbridge, Ennis, Ratheniska, Carlow and Skibbereen.
Eoin Clarke, MD of Switcher.ie spoke to Newstalk Breakfast, have a listen to his interview below:
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