The Cost of Delayed Fibre Adoption

Over the past decade, Ireland has made remarkable progress in expanding full fibre broadband. Today, 86% of Irish homes and businesses can access fibre connectivity, thanks to significant investment by industry and Government. However, the next phase of Ireland’s digital journey is not about whether fibre is available. It’s about how widely it is adopted. 

Infrastructure alone does not create economic value. Roads only improve productivity when people use them. Renewable energy only reduces emissions when it powers homes and businesses. In the same way, fibre broadband only delivers its full return when households and organisations adopt it and use it to transform the way they work, innovate and compete. 

 Digital Transformation and Competitiveness 

Digital infrastructure has become a key factor in how countries compete for investment, innovation and talent. High levels of fibre adoption send a strong signal that businesses and communities are equipped to embrace digital technologies, support innovation and operate at scale. For investors considering where to establish operations, connectivity is no longer simply a utility, it is part of the enabling environment that underpins modern business. 

The World Economic Forum argues that digital infrastructure is no longer simply a technology investment, but a determinant of national competitiveness. As intelligent infrastructure, AI and connected services become more prevalent, the countries that fully embrace modern digital networks will be better positioned to attract investment, foster innovation and support long-term economic growth. 

As other European countries move from network rollout to widespread adoption, the conversation is shifting from where fibre is available to how effectively it is enabling economic growth and unlocking social dividends. Ireland has an opportunity to be a European leader in this next phase, but only if homes and businesses fully embrace the infrastructure that has already been built. 

 

Business Productivity 

Every day, businesses rely on cloud platforms, video collaboration, large file transfers, AI-powered applications and digital customer services. When organisations continue to operate on older connectivity technologies, such as copper, they often adapt their working practices around network limitations rather than around business opportunities. 

That might mean scheduling large uploads overnight, limiting cloud adoption, avoiding bandwidth-intensive collaboration tools or accepting slower workflows as “normal.” These individual compromises may appear small but multiplied across thousands of businesses they represent a significant productivity cost. 

As Ireland seeks to improve national productivity, particularly amongst our domestic companies, digital infrastructure becomes an increasingly important economic enabler, not simply a utility. The Government’s Digital Ireland strategy explicitly identifies secure, resilient, future-proof digital infrastructure as essential for supporting enterprise growth, innovation and long-term competitiveness.  

 

Sustainability 

As Ireland looks to meet its climate and sustainability ambitions, the conversation around fibre adoption should also consider the environmental impact of the networks that underpin our digital economy. 

Legacy copper networks were designed for a different era. Over time, copper cables are more susceptible to weathering, corrosion and degradation, particularly in Ireland’s wet climate. This results in more frequent maintenance, repairs and component replacement, all of which require engineering visits, vehicle journeys and, in some cases, excavation work. Extending the life of ageing infrastructure therefore carries an environmental footprint that often goes unnoticed. The FTTH Council Europe notes that accelerating the transition from legacy copper networks to fibre can reduce maintenance activity, lowering both energy consumption and associated CO₂ emissions. 

There is also the question of energy efficiency. Copper networks rely on electrical signals that weaken over distance, requiring powered cabinets, amplifiers and other active equipment throughout the network to maintain service. Fibre, by contrast, transmits data using pulses of light through glass strands, requiring significantly less energy to carry the same volume of data. As demand for digital services continues to grow, improving fibre adoption can help reduce the energy required to support Ireland’s connectivity needs. 

The environmental benefits extend beyond day-to-day operation. Fibre optic cables are made primarily from silica, one of the world’s most abundant natural materials, and are designed to provide decades of service with low levels of degradation. This reduces the need for frequent replacement and contributes to lower material consumption over the lifetime of the network. 

Ireland has already demonstrated that it can deliver world-class digital infrastructure. Fibre adoption should no longer be viewed simply as a telecommunications issue. Every new fibre connection strengthens Ireland’s digital economy, supports future innovation and helps ensure the country realises the full return on one of most important infrastructure investment of recent decades.  

 

So, What’s Next? 

Prioritise fibre adoption. A concerted effort by Government and industry to drive home the message to consumers and business that the ‘motorways’ of fibre are built and available. This critically entails ensuring that there is a fuller understanding of the benefits of fibre connectivity over older, less fit for purpose technologies.  

Support key groups in fibre adoption. Data shows older cohorts and Irish SMEs are slow to switch off copper and onto to full fibre. Let’s understand their concerns, obstacles and address them.  

This might include greater information and assistance for older people or practical and financial supports for businesses to make the transition. SIRO has called for a national taskforce to drive forward this work. Bringing together industry and Government to work through challenges and implement solutions makes sense.  

Ireland has achieved a huge amount in building out fibre to the home broadband networks across the country over the last decade, but we now need to leverage that digital advantage for the benefit of our economy and society…..that task is only just beginning.