Eir this morning revealed the first 100,000 premises in rural locations around Ireland that will get 1Gbps broadband speeds in the next 12 months. The company also revealed that it is creating 50 new apprentice roles to help facilitate the rollout.

Eir said this morning that, in the next 12 months, some 100,000 homes and businesses across 200 communities in all 26 counties will get 1Gbps broadband.

Last month, Eir CEO Richard Moat told Siliconrepublic.com that, overall, Eir is targeting 300,000 homes and businesses in broadband-deprived areas and that Eir will bring its overall broadband base to 1.9m premises by 2020.

In many of the new rural locations, Eir will bypass the cabinet and connect directly to the exchange using fibre to the home (FTTH) technologies that will deliver speeds of up to 1Gbps. In effect, some rural locations previously deprived of the minimum broadband speeds will soon have superior speeds to their urban counterparts.

‘We already provide the fastest broadband speeds in the country and we are now extending those speeds beyond the town’

– CAROLAN LENNON, OPEN EIR

Eir said this morning that by this time next year it will have reached 1.7m premises.

“We are the only provider with a truly national plan to connect rural communities across Ireland to high-speed broadband,” said Carolan Lennon, the managing director of Eir’s wholesale arm Open Eir.

“We already provide the fastest broadband speeds in the country and we are now extending those speeds beyond the town. Last June, we committed to extend the reach of our commercial rollout as far as possible. Our announcement today is testament to our ongoing support of the economic recovery and rejuvenation of rural Ireland using best-in-class technology.”

Eir to take on 50 new apprentices

Eir also revealed that it is to hire 50 new apprentices who will be trained with direct access to the new FTTH technology that Eir is rolling out in rural locations.

The structured two-year programme will provide on-the-job learning, one-to-one coaching and formal classroom training. Successful applicants will also receive a Level 6 FETAC Telecommunications Access Networks Technology Major Award. Eir will be working with Solas on the ongoing expansion of this programme – which is scheduled to continue in 2017, and beyond.

“The jobs will be based across Ireland and we have been very clear to date on our determination to support rural employment by hiring people from their local communities,” said Orla Coughlan, chief human resources officer at Eir.

“Successful applicants will be trained and taught a range of skills to help build and maintain our fibre network throughout the country.”

The first 100,000 locations in rural Ireland to get 1Gbps FTTH from Eir

Carlow: 690 premises

Tullow 130 Milford 560

Cavan: 1,950 premises

Virginia 750 Blacklion 320 Cavan 710

Clare: 1,330 premises

Cratloe 170 Lisdoonvarna 450 Carron 30 Inagh 250 Ennis 430

Cork: 5,440 premises

Cobh 420 Midleton 530 Youghal 330 Blarney 510 Carrigtwohill 460 Crosshaven 140 Ringaskiddy 160 Macroom West 130 Whitegate 840 Ballyclough 510 Kildorrery 660 Ballincollig 450 Carrigaline 300

Donegal: 14,240 premises

Donegal 980 Ballybofey 780 Dungloe 600 Ardara 480 Annagry 540 Bunbeg 1370 Burtonport 360 Carrigart 1070 Clonmany 840 Carrigans 170 Carrick 290 Dunfanaghy 600 Falcarragh 1240 Greencastle 450 Kincasslagh 340 Killybegs 580 Kilcar 380 Lifford 550 Muff 360 Narin 330 Quigleys Point 520 Fintown 210 Rossnowlagh 440 Letterkenny 760

Dublin: 3,630 premises

Ballyboden 250 Swords 490 Finglas 170 Rush 210 Skerries 170 Malahide 440 Portmarnock 300 Rathcoole 370 Shankill 100 Ballyboughal 580 Oldtown 230 Balbriggan 320

Galway: 12,900 premises

Oranmore 850 Athenry 800 Costello 370 Barna 240 Claregalway 1400 Kilcolgan 1150 Moycullen 800 Ballyconneely 340 Belclare 510 Cornamona 100 Carraroe 480 Craughwell 770 Inverin 690 Kinvara 780 Rosscahill 430 Spiddal 660 Turloughmore 830 Ballyglunin 1030 Castleblakney 350 Maree 320

Kerry: 8,010 premises

Killorglin 970 Killarney 820 Ballyspillane 400 Dingle 290 Anablaha 430 Glenbeigh 610 Lixnaw 500 Abbeydorney 620 Ardfert 670 Annascaul 510 Caragh lake 690 Headford (Kerry) 740 Tralee 760

Kildare: 4,200 premises

Celbridge 150 Newbridge 300 Maynooth 410 Robertstown 1110 Kill 90 Carragh 170 Curragh Camp 300 Carbury 470 Donadea 480 Straffan 520 Brannockstown 200

Kilkenny: 1,860 premises

Knocktopher 400 Mooncoin 500 Piltown 330 Kilkenny 630

Laois: 1,090 premises

Portarlington 260 Ballybrittas 290 Crettyard 540

Leitrim: 710 premises

Carrick-on-Shannon 330 Drumshanbo 380

Limerick: 4,130 premises

Dooradoyle 360 Crossagalla 150 Inch St. Lawrence 660 Clarina 480 Croom 400 Kildimo 260 Patrickswell 620 Castleconnell 290 Pallasgreen 910

Longford: 930 premises

Lanesboro 470 Longford 460

Louth: 7,570 premises

Ardee 680 Castlebellingham 540 Dunleer 1110 Termonfeckin 790 Carlingford 570 Hackballscross 460 Louth 530 Omeath 260 Ravensdale 820 Riverstown 1030 Drogheda 500 Dundalk 280

Mayo: 2,470 premises

Westport 820 Belcarra 340 Murrisk 210 Castlebar 1100

Meath: 7,410 premises

Ashbourne 470 Ceanannas Mor 590 Dunshaughlin 570 Trim 620 Ratoath 470 Kilcarn 280 Athboy 560 Enfield 650 Julianstown 550 Summerhill (Meath) 600 Wilkinstown 700 Dunderry 20 Kilbride 20 Robinstown 120 Tara 1190

Monaghan: 1,330 premises

Carrickmacross 870 Monaghan 460

Offaly: 1,560 premises

Tullamore 560 Edenderry 340 Rahan 300 Rhode 360

Roscommon: 2,040 premises

Cornafulla 360 Ballyfarnan 490 Croghan 340 Cootehall 350 Knockcroghery 500

Sligo: 2,940 premises

Strandhill 260 Sligo 1460 Castlegarren 1220

Tipperary: 2,070 premises

Nenagh 670 Tipperary 550 Cappawhite 220 Kilsheelin 320 Clonmel 310

Waterford: 3,190 premises

Ferrybank 480 Dungarvan 830 Kilmeaden 500 Aglish 390 Bonmahon 430 Loskeran 60 Ring 500

Westmeath: 3,410 premises

Athlone 730 Collinstown 480 Glasson 890 Horseleap 120 Rathowen 230 Mullingar 960

Wexford: 9,540 premises

Wellington Bridge 730 Courtown Harbour 870 Curracloe 530 Duncannon 420 Fethard On Sea 660 Killinick 420 Kilmuckridge 510 Kilmore Quay 180 Rosslare Strand 370 Rosslare Harbour 410 Tomhaggard 660 Broadway 930 Inch 1210 Wexford 640 Enniscorthy 1000

Wicklow: 2,160 premises

Newtownmountkennedy 250 Arklow 310 Blessington 350 Coolboy 220 Donard 200 Brittas bay bridge 440 Kilmacanogue 250 Greystones 140

Rural broadband image via Shutterstock