Fibre Broadband Ireland: Complete Guide (2026)

Everything you need to know about fibre broadband in Ireland: types, speeds, providers, and how to check availability.

By SmartSaver Team | Published 1 January 2026 | 6 min read

Topics: fibre broadband ireland, ftth ireland, fttc vs ftth, fibre internet

"Fibre broadband" in Ireland can mean different things. Here's what you need to know to understand what you're actually buying.

Types of Fibre in Ireland

1. FTTC (Fibre-to-Cabinet)

What it is: Fibre runs to a street cabinet, then copper wire to your home. Speeds: Up to 100Mb (limited by copper) Providers: Eir (older areas), some Sky/Vodafone connections Reality check: This is the oldest "fibre" technology. Speed drops with distance from cabinet.

2. FTTH (Fibre-to-Home)

What it is: Fibre runs directly to your home. Pure fibre, no copper. Speeds: Up to 2Gb Providers: Open Eir FTTH, SIRO, NBI Reality check: This is true fibre. Best speeds and reliability.

3. Cable (Part-Fibre)

What it is: Fibre backbone + coaxial cable to your home. Speeds: Up to 2Gb Provider: Virgin Media only Reality check: Technically "part-fibre," not pure fibre. Still very fast.

Irish Fibre Networks

Open Eir Network

Owner: Eir Technology: FTTC + expanding FTTH Coverage: Widest in Ireland (~95%) Providers: Eir, Sky, Pure Telecom, Vodafone, Digiweb

If you're not in a Virgin or SIRO area, you're probably on Open Eir.

SIRO Network

Owner: ESB + Vodafone joint venture Technology: Pure FTTH Coverage: ~50 towns/cities Providers: Vodafone, Pure Telecom, Sky, Digiweb

SIRO uses ESB's electricity poles to run fibre. Where available, it's excellent quality.

Virgin Media Network

Owner: Virgin Media Technology: Cable (HFC) Coverage: ~50% of Ireland (urban) Provider: Virgin Media only

Separate network from Open Eir/SIRO. Only available in Virgin coverage areas.

NBI Network

Owner: National Broadband Ireland Technology: Pure FTTH Coverage: Rural Ireland (expanding) Providers: Digiweb, Pure Telecom, Sky, Vodafone

Government-backed rollout bringing fibre to rural areas.

How to Check What's Available

Step 1: Check Your Eircode

Enter your eircode on:

eir.ie (Open Eir network)
virginmedia.ie (Virgin cable)
siro.ie (SIRO fibre)
nbi.ie (NBI rural)

Step 2: Understand the Results

"Fibre available" could mean:

FTTC (up to 100Mb) — older technology
FTTH (up to 1-2Gb) — true fibre

Check the maximum speed offered to know which type.

Step 3: Compare Providers on Your Network

Once you know your network, compare providers:

Eir network: Eir, Sky, Pure Telecom, Vodafone
SIRO: Vodafone, Pure Telecom, Sky
Virgin: Virgin Media only
NBI: Digiweb, Pure Telecom

Fibre Speed Tiers

| Tier | Speed | Good For | Price Range | |------|-------|----------|-------------| | Entry | 100-150Mb | 1-2 people | €30-35/mo | | Standard | 300-500Mb | Families | €35-45/mo | | Fast | 1Gb | Heavy users | €40-50/mo | | Ultra | 2Gb | Power users | €55-70/mo |

Most households don't need more than 500Mb.

FTTH vs FTTC: Does It Matter?

FTTC (Fibre-to-Cabinet)

Pros:

Widely available
Cheaper in some cases
Good enough for many users

Cons:

Speed limited by copper (~100Mb max)
Speed drops with distance from cabinet
Less reliable than pure fibre

FTTH (Fibre-to-Home)

Pros:

Much faster speeds (up to 2Gb)
Consistent performance
Future-proof
More reliable

Cons:

Not available everywhere
May require installation work

Verdict: If FTTH is available, it's worth the upgrade. But FTTC is fine for basic use.

Virgin Cable vs True Fibre

Virgin Media uses cable (HFC), not pure fibre. Does it matter?

In practice: Virgin delivers excellent speeds—often the fastest available. The "part-fibre" distinction is technical, not practical. However: Virgin can't advertise as "full fibre" under ASA rules, which is why you'll see "part-fibre" disclaimers.

Common Fibre Questions

Is fibre better than cable?

For consumers, both deliver fast, reliable broadband. Pure fibre (FTTH) has slight advantages in latency and future speed potential, but Virgin's cable is excellent.

Why can't I get fibre?

Fibre infrastructure hasn't reached everywhere. Rural areas especially may only have FTTC (to cabinet) or need alternative solutions (wireless, satellite).

How do I get FTTH installed?

If FTTH is available but not connected to your home:

Order from a provider on that network

They arrange connection

Engineer runs fibre to your property

Usually free as part of signup

Is 1Gb actually 1Gb?

Speeds are "up to" figures. Real-world speeds depend on:

Network congestion
Your router quality
WiFi vs wired connection
Time of day

Expect 80-95% of advertised speeds on fibre.

What about upload speeds?

Most Irish fibre offers:

FTTC: ~20Mb upload
FTTH: 100-500Mb upload (varies by plan)
Virgin: ~50Mb upload

Upload matters for video calls, cloud backups, and content creators.

Summary

Best fibre in Ireland:

SIRO (pure FTTH where available)

Open Eir FTTH (expanding)

Virgin Media cable (fast, different network)

NBI (rural rollout)

Open Eir FTTC (oldest, slowest)

Check availability at your address first, then compare providers on your available network(s).

---

Last updated: January 2026

---