Following the conclusion of a competitive tendering process, the contract to implement and operate the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) was entered into with "3" (a Hutchison Whampoa company trading as 3) on 23 December 2008.
The NBS aims to deliver broadband to certain target areas in Ireland in which broadband services were deemed to be insufficient. Under the contract, 3 are required to provide services to all premises in the NBS area who seek a service. In order to facilitate competition in the area, 3 are also required to provide wholesale access to any other authorised operator who wishes to serve premises in the NBS area.
Under the terms of the NBS contract, 3 is required to have provided coverage in all 1,028 Electoral Divisions (EDs) by end of October 2010.
The original date for this was September 2010, but following a request by 3, under the Force Majeure provisions of the NBS contract, the Minister granted a 4 week extension to the September 2010 date due to the time lost in the network roll-out during the severe winter weather experienced in December 2009 and January 2010.
Individual County maps, together with the list of Electoral Divisions (EDs) in each County to be addressed by the NBS, are available to view below.
NBS Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about the NBS
If you wish to speak to an official within Communications Development Division in relation to the National Broadband Scheme, please contact Eamonn Parkes at 01-6783175, or by email at mailto:eamonn.parkes@dcenr.gov.ie.
Areas to be addressed by the National Broadband Scheme
Assessment of the Effect of the NBS on the Environment