Communications Minister Eamon Ryan today announced that thirty new jobs have been created in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, under the Government’s National Broadband Scheme.
3, the company which is delivering the Scheme, has awarded a contract to Satellite Broadband Ireland to provide broadband services to homes and businesses in rural Ireland. As a result, an additional thirty new jobs will be created by Satellite Broadband at its headquarters in Mullingar.
The €223 million National Broadband Scheme is providing broadband services to areas in Ireland that are currently unserved. As part of this Scheme, some 5% of the more remote areas will be provided with a satellite product.
Minister Ryan said, “Today’s announcement is great news for Mullingar and the surrounding midlands. Not only is the National Broadband Scheme a crucial element in realising our broadband ambitions, but it’s creating sustainable, domestic employment as it progresses.”
Kevin Ryan, Co-Founder of Satellite Broadband Ireland said, “Satellite Broadband Ireland is delighted to partner with Ireland’s leading mobile broadband provider, ‘3’, to support the roll-out of the National Broadband Scheme. The extension of broadband will encourage the entrepreneurial spirit which is a unique asset of the knowledge economy in Ireland and will help secure a sustainable future for firms and entrepreneurs outside urban areas”.
Commenting at the announcement Damien Gallagher, NBS Project Director, 3 said: “This strategic agreement with Satellite Broadband Ireland is an important part of our National Broadband Scheme roll-out. Satellite broadband is the only viable option in a small percentage of buildings without which certain parts of rural Ireland would remain unconnected. 3 chose Satellite Broadband Ireland’s cutting-edge, innovative technology and their highly-skilled and experienced Irish workforce”.
Satellite Broadband Ireland Co-Founder Sean Óg Brennan concluded: “Through the National Broadband Scheme, our satellite broadband service will connect people in un-served areas to an efficient broadband service delivered via the latest satellite technology. Satellite Broadband Ireland chose to use Eulestat’s world-leading satellite broadband technology as they are the largest broadband provider through satellite in Europe. Eutelsat’s experience in this sector was also a major factor in the selection of a satellite broadband provider”.
ENDS
Note to editors:
The cost of the satellite broadband service to consumers within the NBS areas will be the same price as 3’s NBS mobile broadband service - €19.99 per month, plus a once off charge of €49.00 for installation & hardware – providing much-needed broadband connectivity in these areas to both homes and businesses. More information at www.three.ie/nbs
Established in 2008 Satellite Broadband Ireland provides satellite broadband to the Irish market. Since their first installation the Tooway service has now successfully been installed in 24 counties across Ireland covering the most rural locations from west cork to the most northerly points of Donegal. The company currently employs 10 at its headquarters in Mullingar.