Broadband fibre

EC gives go-ahead to ESB-Vodafone broadband joint venture

Trade
Image: Stockfresh

28 October 2014

Vodafone and ESB have received European Commission approval for their plan to create a joint venture for delivering a 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband network for the first time in Ireland.

The open access network which will be available to all authorised broadband operators in the country.

ESB and Vodafone are investing €450 million in the venture, which will use its electricity infrastructure to deliver the broadband speeds from 200Mb/s to 1Gb/s. Some 500,000 premises in 50 towns will be connected during the first phase of rollout to be completed by 2018. The fist technical trials are already taking place in Cavan town.

While the ESB-Vodafone joint venture will build and manage the network, open access will be offered to all authorised operators in Ireland on a wholesale basis. This means that other operators can resell the fibre product to their customers, helping to stimulate the development of new services and boosting retail competition in the broadband market for consumers and businesses.

Pat O’Doherty, chief executive, ESB, said: “We have invested €6 billion in recent years in transforming and modernising Ireland’s electricity grid, so that it can deliver this type of service. It’s consistent with ESB’s strategy of innovating, modernising and working in collaboration with other industry leaders.”

“The fibre-to-the-building broadband network will be the most significant development in Ireland’s broadband sector to date and will be a real boost for regional Ireland and the economy as a whole.”

Anne O’Leary, CEO, Vodafone Ireland, added: “This open access network, made possible by the coming together of two strong established brands – Vodafone and the ESB, will revolutionise consumers and businesses’ experience of broadband.”

TechCentral Reporters

Read More:


Back to Top ↑

TechCentral.ie