How to get broadband in rural Ireland

What is rural broadband?

Rural broadband is broadband that’s available in rural parts of the country.

It can be difficult to get a reliable, fast internet service if you live in a remote area of Ireland compared with a large urban area.

What broadband can you get in rural Ireland?

Here are the main types of broadband you can choose from if you live in a remote part of the country:

• ADSL Broadband uses an existing home phone line to provide an internet connection of up to 24Mb. Your distance from the nearest telephone exchange and the quality of your phone connection could impact your speed.
• Satellite broadband is set up in a household by installing a satellite dish. It can provide an internet connection to any home, even very remote properties.
• Mobile Broadband is provided through a mobile phone signal. It uses the same technology as your mobile phone, so many networks offer mobile broadband via mobile dongles and 4G/5G SIMs.
• Fibre Broadband uses fibre optic cables. It may not be an option for people in rural areas, but it’s worth checking SIRO or Fibre rollout in your area because it’s being added to new counties all the time.

Who provides broadband in rural Ireland?

If you live in a rural area, you could get broadband from these providers:

• eir
• Pure Telecom
• Sky
• Vodafone

Broadband deals available where you live

Your broadband options will depend on your location, for example, fibre broadband is readily available in most major cities across Ireland, but not all rural areas.

Our broadband comparison is a good place to start searching for deals in your area.

Find broadband deals where you live

When is faster broadband being rolled out to rural areas?

If you want to see when faster broadband is on its way to you, check out the High Speed Broadband Map on the Gov.ie website.

It’s part of The National Broadband Plan that aims to deliver ‘quality, affordable high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland where such services are not available commercially.’

What is SIRO?

SIRO is a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone that’s working to deliver a 100% fibre-to-the-building (FTTB) broadband network, using the existing ESB network. SIRO is offered on an open-access basis to all telecoms retailers in Ireland and can deliver speeds up to 1,000Mbps.

It’s being rolled out to regional Ireland first, here are the counties in the planned roll out. You can find out more about how SIRO works and when you’ll get it near you in our SIRO in Ireland guide.

Best broadband and internet for rural areas

The best broadband package for you will depend on what features you’re looking for. If you want a reliable connection, with unlimited usage, an ADSL plan is a good place to start.

Satellite broadband is ideal for people in remote areas because it can provide a connection to any home. However, there can be download limits, so if you’re a heavy user, or you have a busy household, this may not be the best solution.

Likewise, mobile broadband could be a good option, but you’ll need to make sure you have a strong mobile phone signal where you live, to ensure you’ll have a reliable internet connection.

Compare rural broadband packages and plans

What broadband speed can you get in rural Ireland?

Getting fast broadband in rural areas of Ireland can be difficult. The broadband speeds you can get will depend on what type of broadband connections are available in your area and the plan you choose.

How to improve slow broadband

If you live in a rural area and are having issues with slow internet, consider switching your broadband provider. As well as the potential to improve the speed of your broadband, you may also benefit from an introductory discount and save money too.

If you’ve recently switched, or you can’t get a faster plan where you live, try our tips on improving slow broadband, which could make a big difference.