National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has announced plans to launch a 5 Gbit/s fibre broadband service, setting a new benchmark for rural connectivity under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The move, scheduled to go live from October 2025, more than doubles NBI’s current top speed and places users of the network among those with access to some of the fastest broadband globally.
NBI currently provides download speeds ranging from 500 Mbit/s to 2 Gbit/s, already among the highest in the country.
The new 5 Gbit/s offering aims to further accelerate economic growth, digital innovation, and social inclusion across rural and underserved areas of Ireland.
T.J. Malone, Chief Executive Officer of NBI, said: “NBI’s 5 Gig service isn’t just about speed, it’s about unlocking potential of virtually every sector in the country.
“From farmers using precision agriculture to students accessing virtual classrooms, this offering will help redefine what’s possible for every home, school, farm, business and indeed community in our rollout area.”
The new product will be made available to all premises within the NBP rollout area.
Eligible users can check availability via the NBI website by entering their Eircode.
Two product specifications will be offered: 5 Gbit/s download with 500 Mbit/s upload for business users, and 5 Gbit/s / 250 Mbit/s for residential customers.
Applications are expected to range from 8K streaming and online gaming to cloud-based services, AI start-ups, remote working, and IoT-driven healthcare and agriculture.
Joe Lavin, Chief Commercial Officer of NBI, said: “When you look at consumer trends, whether that be smart TV adoption, 4K or higher broadcasting, the proliferation of connected home devices, as well as in-home IoT medical care applications, it's easy to understand why data usage is increasing.
“In response to those trends and to support our customers – broadband providers – in delivering an even better experience for users on the NBI Network, we’re excited to make our 5 Gig product available in the market.”
NBI is partnering with over 50 broadband providers, offering users a wide choice of competitive packages, reinforcing the company’s mission to transform digital infrastructure in rural Ireland.
