Twenty-one business and retail parks across Waterford are being targeted for full-fibre broadband upgrades.

Broadband operator SIRO says it is focusing on locations where businesses may still be relying on older copper-based connections.

Among the Waterford sites identified are Bilberry Industrial Estate, Dungarvan Enterprise Centre, IDA Waterford Industrial Park, Lacken Road Business Park, Park Road Business Park, Shandon Business Park, Waterford FDC Business Centre and Westgate Retail Park.

SIRO Waterford
Pic: Aoife O’Reilly, SIRO Head of Enterprise, and Sean Dervan, SIRO Head of Business Development.

SIRO says the aim is to improve access to fibre-to-the-premises broadband for businesses operating in these areas.

Figures published by ComReg earlier this year showed that 13% of businesses nationally were using full-fibre broadband, despite it being available to 86% of premises.

SIRO has also launched an online search tool allowing businesses to check whether its network is available in their business or retail park.

The company says the service covers more than 600 business and retail parks around the country, including the 21 locations in Waterford.

SIRO Head of Enterprise Aoife O’Reilly said poor broadband connectivity can affect productivity and limit businesses’ ability to adopt technologies such as cloud-based services and artificial intelligence.