Best Broadband for Working From Home Ireland 2026

Remote work demands reliable broadband. Dropped video calls and slow connections cost productivity—and patience. Here's how to get broadband that actually works for WFH.

What Speed Do You Need for WFH?

| Work Activity | Minimum Speed | Recommended | |---------------|---------------|-------------| | Email & documents | 10Mb | 25Mb | | Video calls (1 person) | 10Mb | 25Mb | | HD video calls | 25Mb | 50Mb | | VPN connection | 25Mb | 50Mb | | Large file transfers | 50Mb+ | 100Mb+ | | Multiple simultaneous calls | 50Mb | 100Mb |

The Real Answer

For most WFH setups: 100-300Mb is plenty.

This handles:

• Video calls while partner also calls
• Kids streaming in another room
• Background downloads/uploads
• VPN without slowdown

You don't need gigabit for WFH. Unless you're transferring huge files constantly, 100-300Mb is more than adequate.

What Actually Matters for WFH

1. Reliability Over Speed

A consistent 100Mb connection beats an inconsistent 500Mb one. Look for:

• Fibre-to-home (FTTH) — most reliable
• Virgin Media cable — very reliable
• Avoid FTTC if possible — copper can be unstable
• 5G/4G — variable, not ideal for critical calls

2. Upload Speed

Video calls need upload bandwidth:

• Minimum: 10Mb upload
• Recommended: 25Mb+ upload

Check upload speeds, not just download. SIRO fibre offers 100Mb+ upload; older connections may only have 10-20Mb.

3. Low Latency

For video calls and VPN, latency (ping) matters:

• Fibre: ~5-15ms (excellent)
• Cable: ~10-20ms (good)
• 4G/5G: ~30-50ms (acceptable)
• Satellite: ~50-100ms+ (problematic for calls)

4. No Data Caps

Ensure your plan has unlimited data. WFH uses more than you'd expect with constant video calls and cloud apps.

Best Providers for WFH

For Reliability: SIRO-Based Providers

SIRO fibre is pure fibre-to-home—most reliable for WFH:

| Provider | Speed | Price | Why Good for WFH | |----------|-------|-------|------------------| | Vodafone | 1Gb | €25-40/mo | Best SIRO deal | | Pure Telecom | 500Mb | €35/mo | Best value | | Digiweb | 500Mb | €45/mo | Best support |

For Urban Areas: Virgin Media

Virgin's cable network is reliable for WFH:

• Consistent speeds
• Good upload (50Mb on most plans)
• No landline needed

Price: €35-55/month

For Wide Availability: Eir/Open Eir FTTH

If SIRO or Virgin isn't available, Eir FTTH works well:

• Check it's FTTH, not FTTC
• Upload speeds are good on pure fibre
• Year-two pricing is expensive—plan to switch

Price: €29.99-45/month (year 1)

WFH Broadband Red Flags

Avoid If Possible:

• FTTC (fibre-to-cabinet) — copper to your home limits speed and reliability
• DSL/ADSL — too slow for modern WFH
• Mobile broadband (4G/5G) — inconsistent for critical work calls
• Satellite — latency kills video calls

Warning Signs Your Current Broadband Won't Work:

• Video calls frequently freeze or drop
• VPN connection unstable
• Upload feels slow (file sharing, screen sharing)
• Speed tests show under 50Mb download or under 10Mb upload

Optimizing Your WFH Setup

1. Use Wired Connection

WiFi is the weak link in most setups.

• Connect your work laptop via ethernet cable
• Buy a USB-C to ethernet adapter if needed
• Wired connection = no WiFi interference

2. Position Your Router

If ethernet isn't possible:

• Work near the router
• Avoid walls/floors between you and router
• Keep router elevated and central
• Away from microwaves, baby monitors, cordless phones

3. Upgrade Your Router

Provider-supplied routers are often basic:

• Consider buying a WiFi 6 router
• Or use provider's router as modem + better router for WiFi
• Mesh systems help larger homes

4. Prioritize Work Traffic

Some routers let you prioritize devices:

• QoS (Quality of Service) settings
• Prioritize your work laptop
• Limit bandwidth to streaming devices during work hours

5. Backup Internet

For critical WFH, have a backup:

• Mobile hotspot from your phone
• Cheap 4G/5G router as standby
• Tether to phone if broadband fails

WFH Broadband Calculator

Your household:

• [ ] WFH video calls: +25Mb per person
• [ ] Kids at home/streaming: +25Mb
• [ ] Partner also WFH: +25Mb
• [ ] Smart home devices: +10Mb
• [ ] 4K streaming: +25Mb per stream

Add up your needs, then add 50% buffer. Example:

• You: Video calls (25Mb)
• Partner: WFH calls (25Mb)
• Kids: Streaming (25Mb)
• Buffer: 50%
• Recommended: 115Mb minimum, so get a 150Mb+ plan

Provider Recommendations by Situation

Solo WFH, Light Use

Pure Telecom 100Mb: €30/month Plenty for one person, occasional calls, email, documents.

Couple, Both WFH

Vodafone 500Mb (SIRO): €35/month Handles two simultaneous video calls with headroom.

Family with Kids

Vodafone 1Gb (SIRO): €40/month Multiple calls + kids streaming + buffer for reliability.

Critical Work (Finance, Legal, etc.)

Vodafone or Pure Telecom on SIRO + 4G backup Reliability is paramount. Have backup ready.

Rural WFH

NBI via Digiweb/Pure Telecom: €40-50/month If NBI available. Otherwise, Imagine wireless or Starlink.

When to Upgrade

Upgrade if:

• Video calls regularly freeze
• VPN disconnects frequently
• Upload feels sluggish
• Working from home more than 2 days/week
• Household has grown (more users)

Don't upgrade if:

• Occasional WFH only
• Current speeds work fine
• Already have 300Mb+ with no issues

Tax Deduction Reminder

You may be able to claim broadband costs on tax.

If working from home:

• Portion of broadband is tax-deductible
• Keep receipts/bills
• Check Revenue.ie for current WFH relief rules

Summary

For reliable WFH broadband in Ireland:

Get fibre — SIRO or Open Eir FTTH

100-300Mb is enough for most WFH

Prioritize reliability over maximum speed

Use wired connection for work laptop

Have backup (mobile hotspot) for critical work

Best WFH providers: Vodafone (SIRO), Pure Telecom, Digiweb

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Last updated: January 2026

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Related Guides

• Best Broadband Deals Ireland
• What Broadband Speed Do I Need?
• SIRO Broadband Explained