25% increase in National Broadband Plan construction workforce announced, as NBI adds new partner Gaeltec.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the business tasked with delivering the National Broadband Plan, has revealed that the total construction workforce delivering the roll-out has risen to more than 1,500 people.
This includes a 25% increase in workers in the first half of 2022.
“We anticipate 40% of the entire Intervention Area will be under construction by the end of the year”
The increase includes 80 additional construction workers deployed to the NBP roll-out as a result of NBI’s new partnership with Gaeltec Utilities.
Fibre-up the nation
“The National Broadband Plan is a transformational infrastructure project which will ultimately see Ireland become one of the most connected countries in Europe for fibre broadband,” said David McCourt, chair of NBI.
“Not only will this open up economic opportunities in the future, it is leading to investment and job creation in the regions right now. With 80 additional Gaeltec workers now commencing work in County Wicklow, a workforce of over 1,500 is now deployed to the NBP, showing real momentum in the roll-out.”
National Broadband Ireland is designing, building and operating the new high-speed fibre broadband network for rural Ireland on behalf of the Irish Government.
Nokia is providing the active equipment for the project while 4Site, Actavo and Entegro are the network design partners. NBI’s build partners include Actavo, KN Group, Secto, TLI and Gaeltec. NBI is also working with infrastructure owners and operators such as open eir (pole and ducts network) and Enet (State owned MANs).
NBI will be responsible for the management of the new national broadband network for at least the next 25 years.
“Gaeltec is proud to be part of the NBP roll-out which will help to close the digital divide between urban and rural Ireland,” said Gaeltec managing director Joao Filizardo.
“As a Kilkenny company we recognise the benefit high speed broadband can bring to homes, farms and businesses all over the country, and we are delighted to be partnering with NBI to deliver it. We believe it is a testament to the reputation we have built in the Irish utilities market, and the confidence our customers place in our high standard of work and consistent track record of delivery. We look forward to bringing those attributes to our partnership with NBI.”
NBI Deployment CEO, TJ Malone said the additional capacity will help NBI to ensure more premises are being passed by future-proofed, high-speed broadband every day.
“NBI contractors have already been on the ground across the country for 25 months with over 330,000 premises nationwide surveyed to date and almost 180,000 either constructed or under construction. Today’s announcement will see this activity take a further step up and we anticipate 40% of the entire Intervention Area will be under construction by the end of the year.”
