Surveying for NBP picks up across Cork
Surveying works for the new high-speed fibre broadband network is well underway in several areas of Cork according to the company rolling out the new network.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI) were awarded the contract for the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP).
NBI contractors have been on the ground for eight months and over 150,000 premises nationwide have been surveyed so far. This involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area.
This will enable network design solutions for the provision of a fibre network to every premises in the Intervention Area – a map of over 544,000 premises nationwide identified by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC) - as not being served with adequate broadband speeds.
Cork
In Cork, there are 79,424 premises in the Intervention Area (IA), which includes homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools. This equates to 29 per cent of all premises in the county.
Under the NBP, Cork will see an investment of €314m in the new high-speed fibre network. This will enable elearning, remote monitoring of livestock or equipment, ehealth initiatives, better energy efficiency in the home, and facilitate increased levels of remote working.
NBI crews have made substantial progress in Cork and the following areas are being surveyed: Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Umeraboy, Knocknagree, Rineen, Cullen, Coolinarna, Millstreet, Hollymount and Caherbarnagh.
In September 2020, NBI crews started initial works for the build in townlands around Carrigaline.
These initial works pave the way for the next stage of deploying fibre on poles/ducts and includes the erection of poles, unblocking of ducts, and the insertion of sub ducts into existing ducts, for the fibre to be installed.
All NBI contractors will also carry official ID cards and essential worker letters, and have received training on adhering to all Covid-19 guidelines. They will have vehicles, PPE and signage with both their own and NBI logos.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs)
In advance of the fibre to the home roll out, the NBP provides for the delivery of BCPs nationwide. Over 60 of these sites are now live and have both internal and external broadband access. These facilities will provide free public access to high-speed internet in the rollout area.
These will pave the way for rural communities to receive the benefits of broadband. A full list can be found at /bcp-map/.
Primary schools in the Intervention Area are also being connected for educational access. Locations of BCPs in Cork will include Glash Community Centre, Ballydaly Community Hall, Aubane Community Centre, and Whitechurch Community Centre.
NBI chief executive Peter Hendrick said the company was pleased with the progress being made: “We started physical work on the ground last January and I am delighted to report that this is going very well. We are acutely aware that people want access to high-speed broadband as soon as possible, and our goal is to deliver that.
“The BCPs are a key milestone in delivering access to high-speed internet in the Intervention Area,” he added.
nbi.ie has a search tool to enable the public to check whether their premises is within the rollout area, and to show indicative dates for areas being surveyed. The network build has started in Cork and some connections are expected by the end of this year.
NBI’s contact centre can be reached at 0818-624624 (lo-call) or contactus@nbi.ie.