Best fibre broadband in Ireland

What is fibre broadband?

Fibre broadband delivers high-speed broadband to your home using a network of fibre-optic cables.

Access to fibre broadband in Ireland has improved significantly in recent years, with all 26 counties connected to a fibre network.

It’s the fastest broadband connection available in Ireland, delivering speeds of up to 1,000Mbps (1Gb).

Why choose fibre optic broadband?

The main advantages of fibre broadband are fast speeds, reliability and quality of the internet connection.

You may want to consider superfast fibre broadband if you:

• have a large household with many devices connected at the same time
• stream movies and TV or use catch-up services
• work from home and need reliable, fast access to the internet
• play online games

How does fibre optic broadband work?

It uses fibre optic cables, which run underground, to deliver superfast broadband to homes and businesses.

These fibre cables transmit data faster than copper wires, boosting broadband speed. There are two main types of fibre broadband connection:

1. Fibre to the Home (FTTH) also known as “full-fibre”, is the fastest type of fibre connection. It delivers fibre directly into your home via fibre-optic cables giving speeds of up to 1,000Mbps.
2. Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) also called “part-fibre”, is more common throughout Ireland. It delivers broadband via fibre cables to your nearest cabinet or exchange, which reaches your home via older copper cables. This slows the connection down, so FTTC connections are not as fast as FTTH.

How fast is fibre broadband in Ireland?

Currently, the fastest fibre deals advertised in Ireland are 1,000Mbps (1GB).

All fibre providers, including Sky, Vodafone, Digiweb, Pure Telecom and eir, offer superfast speeds of up to 1000Mbps, but availability depends on where you live and whether SIRO has been rolled out in your area.

Providers often advertise the ‘Up to’ speeds, but the actual speed you get depends on whether or not you have a FTTH or FTTC connection. For instance, if you get part fibre connection (FTTC) your distance from the exchange will also affect speeds available.

Speeds of up to 100Mbps are usually fast enough for the average household.

Which broadband providers offer fibre broadband?

There are six main fibre broadband providers in Ireland.

• Digiweb
• eir
• Pure Telecom
• Sky
• Virgin Media
• Vodafone

Who is the best fibre broadband provider?

The best provider is not always the cheapest broadband provider.

Before signing up for a new network, consider your household needs; for instance, do you stream lots of TV, work from home or just occasionally surf?

The best broadband service for you depends on several different factors, such as:

• broadband connections available in your area
• whether you’re a heavy or light broadband user
• if you want broadband only or a broadband bundle
• what you can afford to spend each month
• whether you intend to move in the next couple of years

Where is fibre broadband available?

Fibre broadband availability depends on several factors, including where you live and providers operating in your area.

Most towns and urban areas are served by at least one major provider offering full or part fibre broadband. However, despite national and regional initiatives, some rural areas still lack access to fibre broadband.

The best way to find out what’s available near you is to use our broadband checker. Select your county and town to compare all the providers in your area or read our guide on how to check broadband availability in your area to learn more.

Find fibre broadband near me

Can’t get superfast fibre broadband in your area?

If you can’t get fibre broadband where you live now, there are plenty of other ways to get connected.

Here’s some other types of broadband

• ADSL broadband a reliable connection, with speeds up to 24Mbps
• Satellite broadband ideal for rural areas without a phone line
• Mobile broadband internet access via a mobile phone signal using a dongle or SIM card.

The broadband plans and broadband connection types will depend on where you live, so try our free broadband checker to compare broadband deals in your area.

Is fibre better than standard broadband?

Fibre optic broadband is faster and more reliable than other broadband connections, so it’s one of the best types of broadband in Ireland.

This is because it uses fibre cables rather than a phone line or other more unreliable technology. You’re likely to get the best broadband speeds with fibre broadband.

There are other broadband connection types that may suit you better if you only use the internet occasionally or fibre isn’t available where you live due to a rural location.

Here are some rural broadband options in Ireland if you live in a remote location or if SIRO or the National Broadband Plan hasn’t rolled out near you.

Is fibre broadband more expensive?

Fibre broadband can be more expensive than other broadband technology, but a full-fibre service will be much faster and more reliable.

Work out your budget and pick a plan that doesn’t stretch you financially. Introductory prices are often much cheaper than the price you’ll pay thereafter, so don’t forget to check what you’ll pay after your discount has ended.

Can you get fibre broadband without a phone line?

Fibre to the home broadband is not reliant on phone lines, so you won’t need one for full fibre broadband or SIRO. However, a part fibre or FTTC connection still depends on a landline.

If you want to make and receive calls on your telephone line, opt for a package with a home phone talk plan to save money.

What is SIRO?

SIRO broadband is a joint venture from the ESB and Vodafone that’s bringing 100% fibre broadband to homes in Ireland using the existing electricity network.

While the National Broadband Plan aims to guarantee speeds of at least 30Mbps in rural areas, SIRO is focused on delivering high-speed 1Gb connections to all homes and businesses on their network

SIRO-powered broadband plans are not yet available nationwide, but the SIRO network is constantly growing. You can check where it’s available and which counties are in the planned rollout at siro.ie.

Our guide: SIRO broadband explained tells you all you need to know about how it works and where it’s available.