Vodafone Ireland to invest €250m in Gigabit Society transformation

15 Nov 2016

Vodafone is seeing broadband growth outpace mobile growth. Image: StockStudio/Shutterstock

Vodafone is planning to invest €250m in 2016 and 2017 in a network and IT transformation programme to deliver its plan for the Gigabit Society.

Mobile network giant Vodafone is strengthening its position as a fixed line broadband provider, with broadband helping to drive revenues in Ireland to €484m.

This was up 1.6pc in the first half of 2015.

‘Vodafone is the single biggest investor in new technology in the Irish telecoms industry’
– ANNE O’LEARY

Fixed broadband customers numbers grew by 10,000, up 4pc on the last quarter.

Broadband outpaces mobile growth

Vodafone Ireland to invest €250m in Gigabit Society transformation

Vodafone Ireland CEO Anne O’Leary. Image: Vodafone

Vodafone Ireland’s total broadband customer base now stands at 408,700.

Mobile data usage is up 37pc year-on-year and 4G customers now total more than 1m users, up 8pc quarter-on-quarter.

The company’s Project Spring upgrade strategy has led to 90pc 4G population across 900 cities, towns and villages across Ireland.

Vodafone Ireland CEO Anne O’Leary revealed that the company is now investing €250m between 2016 and 2017 in a major broadband-led IT and network network transformation.

Vodafone is a joint venture partner with ESB in Siro, the €450m fibre broadband player that is targeting 500,000 premises in more than 50 towns with 1Gbps services by 2018.

“Vodafone is the single biggest investor in new technology in the Irish telecoms industry,” O’Leary said.

“We have invested €550m over a three-year period. This investment is being used to enhance services for our customers in relation to improved call and text reliability, while in tandem rolling out super-fast 4G, 3G and wider high-definition voice coverage.

“We are committed to driving the agenda for a Gigabit Society for Ireland and will invest over €250m in 2016/2017 in our network and IT transformation programme.

“Our performance in this quarter continues a positive upward momentum across the business and reflects both the ongoing strength of our core mobile and broadband business, as well as the growth across our converged service offerings,” O’Leary said.

Vodafone store. Image: StockStudio/Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com