Broadband survey works under way
A NEW NETWORK IS BEING ROLLED OUT IN RURAL AREAS NOT SERVED BY ADEQUATE BROADBAND SPEED
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) has reported that surveying works in several areas of Wexford are well underway.
In Wexford, there are 22,430 premises in the Intervention Area (IA), including homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools, identified by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication as not being served by adequate broadband speeds, amounting to to 27% of all premises in the county.
Under the National Broadband Plan, Wexford will see an investment of €88M in the new high-speed fibre network, to facilitate increased levels of remote working and enable e-learning, remote monitoring of livestock or equipment, e-health initiatives, better energy efficiency in the home.
NBI crews have made substantial progress in Wexford with the following areas being surveyed - Tomhaggard, Ladys Island, Broadway, Mayglass, Tagoat, Kilrane, Tacumshane, Rosslare, Rosslare Harbour, Killinick, Piercetown, Murrintown, Cleristown, Baldwinstown, Bridgetown, Duncormick, Kilmore and Kilmore Quay.
In June 2020, crews started initial works for surveying in the following areas - Oilgate, Castlebridge, Taghmon, Ballykelly, Barntown, Castle Ellis, Kilbride, Ballyhuskard, Bridgetown and Whitechurch.
People are advised that all NBI contractors carry official ID cards and essential worker letters, and have received training on adhering to all Covid 19 guidelines. They have vehicles, PPE and signage with both their own, and NBI logos.
In advance of the fibre to the home roll out, the NBP is providing Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. Over 60 of these sites are now ‘live’ and have both internal and external broadband access. The facilities which include GAA clubs, community centres and tourist sites, will provide free public access to high-speed internet.
The BCPs will pave the way for rural communities to receive the benefits of broadband, from mobile working, e-learning and mobile banking, to digital tourism. Primary schools in the Intervention Area are also being connected for educational access as part of the plan.
Locations of Broadband Connection Points in County Wexford include St Mary’s GAA Complex in Rosslare, Stella Maris Community Centre, Kilmore Quay, Ferrybank Leisure Centre, and Raheen Parochial House.
NBI chief executive Peter Hendrick said the company is pleased with the progress being made. ‘We started physical work on the ground last January and I am delighted to report that this is going very well. We are acutely aware that people want access to high-speed broadband as soon as possible, and our goal is to deliver that.
‘Survey designs are an important part of mapping out how every home and business will be connected, and these will provide the blueprint for how the NBI fibre is laid.
‘The BCPs are a key milestone in delivering access to high-speed internet in the Intervention Area, and we’re delighted to see these are being connected for access – internally and externally, right across the county.’
NBI’s website www.nbi.ie has a search tool to enable the public to check whether their premises is within the roll-out area, and to show indicative dates for areas being surveyed.
Detailed designs for the fibre area network are drawn up following the surveys which involve physically walking the routes and documenting poles, cables and underground ducts in each area.
Over 150,000 premises nationwide have been surveyed.
LOCATIONS OF COMMUNITY BROADBAND CONNECTION POINTS WILL INCLUDE ST MARY’S GAA, ROSSLARE, STELLA MARIS CENTRE, KILMORE QUAY AND FERRYBANK LEISURE CENTRE