Compare broadband deals
It’s really easy to compare broadband deals using our straightforward comparison tool - simply take a look at the table to see broadband speeds, prices and contract lengths from Ireland’s top broadband providers.
Irish broadband providers
There are many different broadband providers in Ireland, and which one you go for will depend on a range of factors, such as price and availability. Some of the main providers - and their key features - include:
eir
- ‘Superfast’ broadband, with speeds of up to 1,000Mbps available in some areas.
- Variety of speeds and plans available.
- Free eir Sport with any broadband plan.
- Ability to bundle broadband with phone and TV.
Sky
- ‘Superfast’ broadband, with speeds up to 100Mbps.
- A range of packages available - including broadband, phone and TV packages.
- If you opt for Sky TV with your broadband, you’ll get the Sky Q TV box as standard.
Virgin Media
- ‘Superfast’ broadband speeds - regularly named Ireland’s fastest broadband provider, plans with speeds of up to 360Mbps are available.
- Customers can get standalone broadband, or bundle with TV, phone and/or a mobile plan.
- Virgin Media offers 30-day ‘Freedom’ broadband and TV plans, perfect for people who don’t want to be tied down
Vodafone
- Broadband speeds of up to 1,000Mbps available in some areas.
- A variety of different broadband connections are available, so if you can’t get fibre, you should be able to get ADSL broadband from Vodafone through your landline.
- You can add on Vodafone TV to any broadband plan, once you get broadband speeds of over 40Mbps.
If these providers don’t work for you, take a look at the other broadband providers in Ireland.
Types of broadband connections in Ireland
There are many different types of broadband available across the country, and the one you get will depend on where you live and which providers service your area.
ADSL/ADSL2 broadband
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) broadband uses an existing home phone line to provide an internet connection of up to 24Mbps.
As this technology uses the phone line in your home, you’ll need a home phone line installed in order to avail of it. It’s also important to note that your distance from the nearest telephone exchange and the quality of your phone connection could impact your speed.
Providers of ADSL broadband include Digiweb, eir, Pure Telecom, Sky, and Vodafone, and introductory prices start at €25 per month. This type of broadband is generally good for those in rural areas as anyone with a phone line can avail of it.
Cable broadband
Cable broadband is another name for fibre broadband - with cable broadband, broadband is delivered to your home using fibre-optic cables. The fastest type of fibre connection is Fibre-to-the-Home, but Fibre-to-the-Cabinet is more common and can still offer speeds up to 360Mbps.
At present, cable broadband is available from many providers, such as eir, Digiweb, Magnet, Sky, Virgin Media, and Vodafone. The likes of SIRO, eir, enet and Virgin Media are continually working to roll out superfast speeds across Ireland, which means it’s getting easier and cheaper than ever to access high-speed internet.
However, in certain rural areas throughout the country, some fibre & superfast broadband packages still may not be available. If the broadband you want is not currently available in your area, consider the other types of broadband that are available - for example satellite broadband or ADSL - and see if one of these might work for you.
Fibre broadband
Fibre broadband is the quickest type of broadband connection, and as a result it can be more expensive than the likes of ADSL broadband.
With fibre broadband, broadband is delivered to your home using fibre-optic cables. The fastest type of fibre connection is Fibre-to-the-Home, which brings the fibre cables directly into your home - this can currently deliver speeds of up to 1,000Mbps.
Other connections are known as Fibre-to-the-Cabinet, which delivers fibre to your nearest cabinet and then usually uses copper cables to bring the connection to your home. Speeds from up to 100Mbps up to 360Mbps are available through these types of connections from the likes of eir, Sky, Virgin Media and Vodafone. The actual speed you get will depend on your provider and your distance from the cabinet.
This type of broadband suits consumers who require fast speeds, but want to get broadband without having a phone line installed.
Mobile broadband
Mobile broadband means mobile internet access which is provided to customers through a mobile phone signal.
As the technology used to provide mobile broadband is the same as the one that lets you use your mobile phone, many mobile network carriers offer mobile broadband via mobile dongles and 4G SIMs. Dongles can enable mobile broadband access on laptops and PCs, while 4G SIM cards can be used to gain access to the internet on a tablet.
Mobile broadband can be really useful, especially for people who need access to the internet on the move, however bear in mind that if your mobile phone signal is bad where you live, you’ll likely get poor mobile broadband signal, too.
You’ll also need to keep an eye on data allowances if you opt for a mobile broadband plan, as these can be quite low, and the charges for going above the limit tend to be steep.
Satellite broadband
Satellite broadband is set up in a household through the installation of a satellite dish, and provides speeds of up to 30Mbps.
Although it is slower than other types of broadband, the major benefit of satellite broadband is that it can provide an internet connection to any home - this can be particularly important in rural areas, where laying cables is not possible.
Unlike other broadband, satellite packages will have a cap on downloads - at the moment, these range from 8-50GB per month.
One of the the main providers of satellite broadband in Ireland is Europasat.
How do I compare Irish broadband deals?
The broadband market in Ireland is competitive, which is good news for consumers are there are loads of great offers available. However, this can also mean it’s hard to decide on one deal.
When you’re comparing offers, it’s important to look at the price, broadband speed, and contract length. You should also consider whether you want to bundle your broadband with TV or home phone and, if so, what channels you can’t live without, and what kind of phone plan you need.
Cheapest broadband deal
The cheapest broadband package available in Ireland at the moment is Vodafone Simply Broadband from Vodafone. It costs €40 for the first 6 months, and €45 thereafter.
Best broadband deals
The best broadband deal for you will depend on what you’re looking for - for example:
- if you’re looking for the fastest broadband, Connect 360 from Virgin Media has speeds of up to 360Mb;
- if you want to bundle broadband and phone, Pure Telecom offers the cheapest plan;
- if you want to get a TV and broadband package, there are 4 main providers in the Irish market. The Mix 240 plan from Virgin Media costs €49 for the first 12 months, and €89 thereafter.
