Surveying works for the rollout of high speed fibre broadband as part of the Government's national plan are underway in Waterford, according to National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
Under the plan, Waterford will see an investment of €59 million in the new high speed fibre network.
In a statement, NBI said its contractors have been on the ground across the country for 22 months and over 293,809 premises nationwide have been surveyed to date. Surveying involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area.
Rollout for Waterford
In Waterford, there are 15,334 premises in the Intervention Area (areas that don't currently have access to high speed broadband), which includes homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools. NBI says this equates to 24% of all premises in the county.
It's hoped the National Broadband rollout locally will enable or improve e-learning, remote monitoring of livestock or equipment, e-health initiatives, better energy efficiency in the home, and facilitate increased levels of remote working.
Surveys in Waterford
Tallow in the west of the county has already been surveyed, and NBI says "these initial works pave the way for the next stage of deploying fibre on poles/ducts and includes the erection of poles, unblocking of ducts, and the insertion of sub duct into existing ducts, for the fibre to be installed."
All NBI contractors will carry official ID cards and essential worker letters, and have received training on adhering to all Covid 19 guidelines. They will have vehicles, PPE and signage with both their own, and NBI logos.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs)
In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home roll out, the NBP provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCP’s) nationwide. 454 of these sites are now ‘live.' These facilities - which include GAA clubs, community centres and tourist sites – will provide free public access to high speed internet in the rollout area.
NBI Chief Executive Peter Hendrick said:
Momentum has been steadily building in the progression of the National Broadband Plan rollout, with homes across the country being connected to high-speed broadband.
Broadband in your area
NBI’s website has a search tool to enable the public to check whether their premises is within the rollout area, and to show indicative dates for areas being surveyed.
More here on the latest news for Waterford.
