Kilkenny city gets connected with Siro broadband network

13 Oct 2017

Kilkenny city. Image: Madrugada Verde/Shutterstock

Great news for Kilkenny residents as broadband network roll-out begins.

Siro – the ESB and Vodafone joint venture – is to update Kilkenny County Council (Kilkenny City East and Kilkenny City West municipal districts) on the plans for its 1Gbps broadband network in the city.

Gigabit connectivity will allow residents to avail of top-notch broadband, and the roll-out has commenced in the Lakeview, Lintown and Johnswell Road areas of the city.

Once construction ends, approximately 12,800 homes will have access to Siro’s 100pc fibre optic broadband network, with zero copper to slow it down.

A transformative development for Kilkenny

As Siro is an open-access wholesale provider, customers will purchase broadband services from one of its retail partners, such as Vodafone, when the service goes live at the end of the year.

Aoife Ni Lochlainn of Siro said the company was “delighted to be bringing 100pc fibre optic broadband to the people of Kilkenny city, a development that will be as transformative as the roll-out of electricity was 70 years ago”.

She continued, saying that “the internet is now at the centre of or lives, whether it’s talking to our loved ones overseas, streaming movies or selling products to the farthest corners of the globe.

“Having the same gigabit connectivity as a city like Tokyo means that Kilkenny city will experience the latest advances in online education and entertainment, with local Kilkenny entrepreneurs and businesses able to bring their ideas to life, trading effortlessly around the world.”

Siro working on countrywide broadband efforts

Siro uses the existing ESB network to deliver fibre optic cables all the way to the building, and its network covers 100,000 premises, with services now live or under construction in 25 towns across the country, including Killarney, Ennis, Sligo and Bray.

Broadband quality is an essential element of a city’s success, and this new scheme will create a platform for future development in the region with entrepreneurs and start-ups, while also boosting established businesses.

Kilkenny city. Image:Madrugada Verde/Shutterstock

Ellen Tannam was a journalist with Silicon Republic, covering all manner of business and tech subjects

editorial@siliconrepublic.com