A key element of the Government’s National Broadband Plan was implemented in October with the connection of the first group of 50 ‘Broadband Connection Points’.

It was part of a new initiative – ‘Connected Communities’ – which involves using Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) in rural communities to provide them with high-speed internet access at publicly-accessible sites. The BCPs are located in some of the most isolated and rural communities in the country. Further installations are planned, and should bring the total number of connected public access points to over 300 in 2021.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, TD, described the National Broadband Plan as “one of the most important capital investments in the history of the State” which would have “a transformative effect on those communities that have too often been left behind”.

The BCP initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Local Authorities and the owners and managers of the BCP sites. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) will act as the Wholesale Service Provider (WSP), while Vodafone Ireland will act as the Retail Service Provider (RSP). A full list of the connected BCPs is available here at www.gov.ie.