The first farm has been connected to a new high-speed fibre network achieving minimum speeds of 500Mbps under the National Broadband Plan.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the new future-proofed, high-speed fibre-to-the-home network under the National Broadband Plan on behalf of the Government made the announcement earlier today (Thursday, April 1st).
Tom Canning Agricultural Consultants Ltd near Crossdoney, County Cavan is the first farm business to be connected to the NBI network by Retail Service Provider, Eurona Arden Broadband.
Canning, who is the president of the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) and managing director of Canning Consultants, says he “expects to benefit hugely from a high-speed fibre connection”.
Tom Canning said: “We are delighted to be the first farm business to be connected under the National Broadband Plan.”
“The need for the farming community to be connected to a high-speed network is vital as administration and the day-to-day running of a farm has moved online.”
“For the purpose of my farm consultancy business, I also need a reliable network connection so I can effectively operate business from a rural base and I am already seeing the benefits from this connection. From speaking with others in the farming community, the NBP will benefit them hugely.”
High-speed broadband ‘essential’ for farmers
NBI stated that a reliable, high-speed broadband connection has never been so important for Ireland’s farming community, as the agricultural sector has experienced an “accelerated adoption of technological advances in recent years”.
A spokesperson noted that the Covid-19 pandemic also gave rise to the growing trend of virtual mart auctions, allowing farmers to trade livestock effectively online.
As an industry with a heritage of innovation, making reliable, high-speed broadband is “essential” to their future success.
Farmers, along with residents and businesses will be able to order their connections through a number of Retail Service Providers (RSPs) who will offer services over the network.
Further information
As a wholesale provider, NBI will make the new Fibre-to-the-Home network available to all RSPs operating in the Intervention Area.
Some 42 RSPs have already signed up to sell services on the NBI network and 17 are certified as ready to start providing connections as of today.
To find out more about the RSPs signed up to offer services over the new network visit here.
NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates here to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progresses in their area.
