More than 14,000 homes across Donegal are to get 1Gbps superfast fibre broadband over the next 12 months.
The roll-out in Donegal is the biggest in the State announced by communications company Eir in which 100,000 homes nationally will get connections faster than many available in cities like Dublin and Cork.
A total of 24 towns and villages across Donegal will be part of the roll-out including Letterkenny, Ballybofey, Ardara, Dungloe, Clonmany, Lifford and Killybegs.
Another 200,000 homes will be targeted by Eir in areas with poor or no broadband by 2020.
The move has been welcomed by Minister Joe McHugh.
He said “The National Broadband will connect 1.8m people in 750,000 postal addresses to a minimum of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload speeds.
“Here in County Donegal the aim is to connect every single home to broadband and this is being rolled out over the next few months and will continue to every home by 2020.
“This latest initiative by Eir is most welcome; it has the potential to revolutionise life in every corner of the county, helping not just families but entrepreneurs and businesses large and small.
“In this roll-out by Eir, Donegal-owned KN Networks are contracted to deliver the connections to communities in the county.
“Homes and businesses which once had poor broadband connection or no connection at all will have speeds not even available to most people in our cities.”
Minister McHugh went on: “Of the first 100,000 homes to get this superfast broadband connection, more than 14,240 are here in Donegal, the largest delivery to any county in this phase.
“No fewer than 23 communities will see the new service from Greencastle to Kincasslagh and from Bunbeg to Ballybofey.
“I know it has taken time to get to this point but this Government has committed to connecting rural Ireland to 21st century broadband speeds and we are now seeing the benefits.”
The following is a list of connections of towns and villages across Donegal which will be part of the current roll-out.
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
Tags: