The Granahan McCourt/Enet consortium led by David McCourt, chairman of Enet and founder of global telecoms investment specialists Granahan McCourt Capital, is one of three companies included in the shortlist of candidates being considered to develop the government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP).

The other two contenders on the shortlist are eir, and Siro, a joint venture between the ESB and Vodafone. The two bidders which have been ruled out by the Department of Communications are Gigabit Fibre and Imagine.

The Granahan McCourt/Enet consortium also inclides John Laing, 3i Infrastructure, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and the Kelly Group. The consortium’s PR advisors are Heneghan PR.

David McCourt commented: “We have built a team of industry specialists with global resources and experience which is matched with local knowledge and trust. Our promise is to deliver world-class high speed broadband to every home, farm and business in the intervention area, which covers much of Ireland’s most rural regions.”

In Association with

“In establishing this consortium, we have presented the State with the world’s top experts in building networks, particularly in telecoms, to work alongside the Irish government. This will ensure that this critical project is developed on time, on budget, and in compliance with industry standards on an un-conflicted open-access wholesale basis.

"John Laing are specialist investors in greenfield infrastructure projects. Financial resources and infrastructure expertise is provided by our partners 3i Infrastructure, whose team has invested in over 200 infrastructure assets in partnership with the public sector, including notably the successful development of the rural broadband project in France.”

Granahan McCourt recently announced a joint venture in Saudi Arabia, the first PPP following the state’s Vision 2030 reform plans which aim to open up opportunities for outside investment and partnerships.

Enet, led by CEO Conal Henry, operates the state-owned Metropolitan Area Networks and manages a nationwide wireless networks.

The tender process for the National Broadband Plan currently involves three lots – Northern Intervention Area (350,000 premises), Southern Intervention Area (400,000) and a Combined Lot.

Photo: Conal Henry (left) with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Barry O'Halloran (right), CEO of BBnet