Eircom said this morning it will be expanding its fibre footprint to include an additional 200,000 homes and business in Ireland – growing its 100Mbps fibre network from 1.2m premises to 1.4m premises.

The next-generation broadband programme is ahead of schedule and the company is on track to pass 700,000 premises by the end of the year, Eircom said.

The latest expansion means an additional 562 communities across all 26 counties will be able to avail of Eircom’s superfast eFibre service.

“This is a very positive development and a critical step forward in ensuring as many people as possible across Ireland have access to high-speed fibre broadband,” Eircom CEO Herb Hribar said.

Network for a nation

Hribar continued: “No other operator in Ireland is investing as extensively in fibre broadband. Our investment reinforces our commitment to build a network for a nation that connects as many customers as possible to Ireland’s largest telecommunications infrastructure.

“Our announcement today means that 70pc of all homes and businesses in Ireland will have access to fibre broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps by December 2016.

“Today’s announcement maximises the footprint of fibre broadband that can be currently achieved on a commercial basis in Ireland and we are committed to work with the Government to ensure that the National Broadband Plan provides access to high-speed broadband for all,” Hribar said.

Fiber Optic Vortex, via JaredZammit on Flickr