Digital Connectivity - Getting Online

Digital Connectivity

The deployment of a high-quality digital infrastructure underpins almost all sectors of a modern and innovative economy, while also ensuring that citizens and business can reap the benefits of the internet of things (IoT), machine-to-machine technologies, cloud computing and big data.

The Irish Government’s Digital Connectivity Strategy (December 2022) has two main goals:

1. By 2028, all homes and businesses in Ireland will have access to a Gigabit network.
2. By 2030, all populated areas will have 5G coverage.

In April 2024 the EU co-legislators signed the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) to support delivery of the EU's digital decade connectivity targets, ensuring that by 2030 a fixed gigabit network of a very high capacity (1 Gbps) will be covering all EU households and that all populated areas will have 5G.

National Broadband Plan:

High-speed internet for everyone is important for a digitally inclusive society. Galway County Council is helping to achieve this in County Galway through various initiatives like the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The NBP aims to provide access to high-speed broadband to every home, school, and business in Ireland, even in remote areas. This is done through private investments and government support.

The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (CCS) has chosen National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to build, maintain, and operate the State Intervention network for the next 25 years. The NBP will bring high-speed fibre broadband to over 544,000 properties in Ireland, including 39,434 in County Galway, with an investment of €153 million in county Galway.

NBI’s web site provides information on their service plans. You can check when services will be available in your area using your Eircode and email address, NBI’s website can be accessed via this link.

The NBP also encourages commercial investment in broadband through policies and regulations. This has led to significant investments by telecom companies in County Galway, bringing new fibre broadband to both rural and urban areas.

Galway County Council’s Role

High-speed internet for everyone is important for a digitally inclusive society. Galway County Council is helping to achieve this in County Galway through various initiatives like the National Broadband Plan (NBP).

The NBP aims to provide access to high-speed broadband to every home, school, and business in Ireland, even in remote areas. This is done through private investments and government support.

Broadband Officer

Galway County Council has a full-time Broadband Officer who works with telecommunications companies to improve services in the county.